• psychology,  UTSC

    some money math

    November 25, 2014

    Hey Aska,
    So I’m now a fourth-year Psych student at UTSC who realizes how much I effed up over the past three years and would do anything to start all over again (not really)… but that’s not an option. My biggest dilemma now is D-levels. Fall semester is almost over and the one D-level program requirement I’m hoping to take in the winter is still listed as interim. The other D-level that should fulfill my degree requirements is quite unattainable for me at the moment since I never got to take one very significant B-level for my Bio minor (so not many C-levels available for me either, but manageable), and I’m simply done my English minor without having taken any D’s. Worst case scenario, I wouldn’t be able to get into any D-levels at all this year and I’d have to take another year. I probably shouldn’t say worst though because this would also very likely increase by GPA. But after I complete winter semester I’d have 18/20 credits so I only really need 4 courses next year (and summer wouldn’t be an option either because there are no courses offered that I need / have the prerequisites to take). Would it be possible to only take Fall semester full time next year if I manage to get into two D-levels then? Or would it be better if I only take two courses per semester and go to school for both semesters part time? Thanks a lot!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    both the scenarios you listed would be possible. i guess it’s up to you to decide which one would be more feasible for you. i’m not sure what you might mean by “better” other than “cheaper” and “quicker,” so i’ll just address those two adjectives in particular.

    if you were to take 2.0 FCEs in one semester (i’m gonna assume you enrolled in or before 2011 because you’re in your fourth year), it would cost you $3,191.95.

    if you were to split it between two semesters, 1.0 FCEs/semester, it would come out to $2935.12. so you’d save about $250 if you were to do 1.0 FCEs in each semester, but you would also be in school for one semester longer. (you can see where i’m pulling all these numbers here).

    so i guess it’s up to you. and, partly, to when the courses you want to take are offered.

    best of luck, my friend, and try not to beat yourself up over your situation. people’s university careers almost never go the way they plan – and that’s not always a bad thing. you’ll get through it.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • courses

    oops :/

    November 24, 2014

    I ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED A COURSE I NEED ON ROSI..HELP I AM FREAKING OUT…HOW DO I READD IT??????

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    oooh, that sucks…

    if it’s a Y course, talk to your registrar’s office about it, and they may be able to re-add you.

    if it’s an S course…add yourself to the wait list asap.

    sorry about that,

    aska

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  • business,  rotman,  UTM

    talking about some business business

    November 24, 2014

    Hello,

    I am an IB student. I would be interested to go to a business school or a university in order to study business/management. I was wondering in which school could I go with which grades ? Maybe, if you have some websites in mind that could help me, I will be happy to visit them.

    Thanking you in advance and waiting for your answer.

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i only really know about business at uoft, and very generally in ontario, so that’s what i’m gonna tell you about.

    most people agree that the really good business schools in ontario are schulich at york, ivey at western and rotman at uoft (utm’s management programs are also really good).

    this is a uoft blog, so obviously i can tell you the most about rotman and UTM management. i’d recommend you browse the rotman tag if you want to learn all the intricacies and funny little details of that part of uoft.

    you can also browse rotman’s viewbook and their FAQ’s and Useful Links page for a lot of basic info about the school.

    if you have any more questions about commerce at uoft, just shoot ’em my way. and good luck in your research – hopefully you’ll be on your way to the most businessy of careers in no time!

    best,

    aska

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  • ccit,  transfer credits

    i’ll take one course to-go, please

    November 24, 2014

    Hey Aska!

    So, I am a 3rd year Digital Enterprise Management student and I just had a question about transferring a credit. There is a 4th year course (MGD428) which is REALLY difficult and heavy (I took it this year but dropped it because it is really hard) and it is only offered in the fall semester so I have to take it next year.

    But I was wondering if I take a project management course (4th year) at Guelph Humber which has the same weight and extremely similar description to MGD428, I can transfer it and use it towards my degree? I wanna take it during the summer so I won’t have to take it at UTM in the fall. I read the guidelines for transfer credits and LOPs, and I think I can do this, I just wanna make sure?? I know I have to get at least 60% but I feel like I can.

    The one at Guelph-Humber is significantly easier (I know taking it at UTM will hurt my GPA) and uses a much easier textbook but the actual content and work you do is really really similar. And the Guelph-Humber prof is much better (there is only 1 section taught at UTM every year with a really hard prof).

    Thanks! You’re awesome!

    * and PS I know I can take it and pass at UTM but I want to keep my GPA high for grad school and I know taking it at UTM will make it go down.. :\

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i checked transfer explorer for MGD428 at University of Guelph-Humber and i wasn’t able to find any equivalencies, so i can’t tell you what your chances are in getting it granted, but i wouldn’t despair just yet – all that means is that no one has requested it before.

    even though i haven’t been able to find a precedent of people doing this specifically for MGD428, you still can certainly request it using an LOP.

    as long as you meet the eligibility requirements for the LOP, i’d say there’s no harm in making a request. if you want to know your chances of having it granted, have a chat with CCIT and ask them if they’ve ever granted a request for that course before.

    other than that, just submit the LOP and hope for the best! i’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

    best,

    aska

    P.S.: here’s a tip for you – saying that you want to take a course somewhere else because it’s easier probably won’t fly with the people who approve these requests. if you have another reason for making the request, maybe emphasize that one.

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  • computer science,  wait list

    if the first four people on the waitlist were to “disappear”…

    November 24, 2014

    aska,
    Sorry to bother you, but I’m currently 5th on the waitlist (out of 240 spaces) for a lecture that I really need to be in (CSC148H1S).
    I understand that being in the top 10% of the people in the course gives me a good chance of getting in, but I can’t be too sure. So I was wondering how fast the waitlists move around the first week of Winter classes (or in the first week of semesters if it’s too specific), based on my current situation.
    Many thanks!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i mean, not only are you in the top 10% of the class size, you’re in the top 2%. you’re playing with some nice odds there.

    i know it seems frustrating now since the waitlist is NOT MOVING AT ALL OH GOD, but it will move in the first week. especially considering this is a first year class, and so a lot of people won’t know what to expect from it, a lot of people are gonna drop it after the first class.

    “oh no,” they’ll say indignantly after the first half-hour of lecture. “this is not at ALL what i signed up for.”

    in fact, i’ve heard stories of people up and leaving classes at the break, not even staying for the whole first lecture, going straight home and dropping the course right away. trust me, it happens, and it’ll happen for CSC148.

    so yeah, have a backup because that’s just good sense, but i’d say your chances are pretty good.

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • fees

    pls i need money

    November 24, 2014

    hi! im a part time student and i want to drop a y course and i know that the deadline has passed to get 100% full refund but is there a way for me to use that money for the y course to take up two more credits in the winter semester and just drop the y course? thanks

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

    hey there,

    the deadline to drop a Y course and get any kind of a refund for part-time students was november 11th – now, you’re in the no refund zone. if you drop the course?now, you won’t get a refund, and if you add more courses in the winter term, you’ll be charged the full amount.

    sorry?man, no fee loopholes there. if you’re looking to save money, i would recommend looking very lost when you take the TTC – you can sometimes get free pity rides that way. that’s what i do.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • subject POST

    i’m late, i’m late, for a very important POSt!

    November 24, 2014

    Hey there – if I want to change Subjct POSt next year in summer, and am a 2nd-year student, do I just care about the 1st-year admission requirement of the programs I’m interested in? Do I also need to take the second-year required courses (but not labelled as admission requirement) to make myself eligible to be a 3rd-year student next year?

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

    hey there,

    it depends on the POSt.* if your POSt is a minor/type 1 major kinda deal, then you can probably get away with squishing all?the courses into your third and fourth years. you may have to take some summer courses and you’ll really hate yourself when your friends are?making out under Canada Day fireworks and you’re at home studying, but hey, c’est la vie.

    however, if the POSt you’re interested has specifications about applying after first year AND after second year, then you’ll need to meet the requirements for applying after second year.

    an example of a POSt that does this is the psychology major. compare that, for example, with the anthropology major?or biology minor, which don’t make too much of a fuss about when you take courses.

    if you’re unsure about what the calendar is telling you for the POSt you’re interested in, just call the department and they’ll be happy to help.

    cheers,

    aska

    * which is why it’s always a great idea to be AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE in these questions. *nagging wife voice* i’m not a mind-reader, y’know.

    P.S. i know the title doesn’t rhyme. whatever. it’s post-modern, okay?

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  • subject POST

    i would like EVERY subject POSt please

    November 20, 2014

    Hey there! I’m a third-year who has recently been hearing from my graduating peers that you can get out of this place with more than 3 subject POSts – is that even a thing? Like, I’ll have people go on about having a polisci-history specialist, a classical civ minor, a history of religion minor, a WGS minor, etc. all at once. Do you have to get permission or something to do this? I don’t get it but it seems p cool tbh. It’d make the degree nicer, that’s for sure. Cheers, aska ~

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

    hey there,

    the faculty of arts and science pretty explicitly states?that you can only enrol in three subject POSts, only two of which can be majors or specialists.

    i’ve never heard of people doing this, but if you were to get a special exception, it would have to come from the faculty, because they’re the people who make the rules. so MAYBE it’s possible.

    or maybe your friends are bending the truth a little to brag. i dunno. you can be the judge of that.

    best,

    aska

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  • subject POST

    a change of mind (and POSt)

    November 20, 2014

    hey dear aska!

    first, thank you for answering my question last time on tumblr 🙂 i find it very helpful!

    i am planning to change subject post to a german major and minors in econ and cinema studies. it’s my second year in u of t, and i am now doing finance specialist in rotman 😛

    i will have completed the courses that are required for german major (2nd year) and econ minor (2nd year, too) by summer 2015. sorry for all this long introduction for my background~ and here comes my two questions,

    1) concerning my situation, do i just wait for april and add the posts that i want?

    2) different from the progress in german and econ, i will only complete the first-year requirement course for cinema studies by summer 2015. will it contradict with the “years of study” approved by the other two programs? if not, am i good enough to register as a 3rd-year student in 2015/16 ?

    thank you so much for reading my questions!?

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

    hey there,

    1) yes, you have to wait until april to change around subject POSts.

    2) year of study is determined by the number of credits you’ve accumulated to date, so taking a first year course can’t really change that.

    however, you may run into some problems if you’ve already taken 6.0 first-year courses – if you then take CIN105Y1, the course will be designated as an ‘extra’ course,?which means it won’t?count towards your CGPA or credits towards your degree.

    the CIN minor only requires 4.0 FCEs, so if you do CIN105Y1 in the summer, you’ve got plenty of time in your third and fourth year to do the other 3.0 FCEs required for the POSt.

    if you’re willing to possibly have that CIN105 course be designated extra, you shouldn’t run into any problems. lots of people take up a minor after second year – i’d say it’s totally doable.

    sidenote: don’t apologize for giving background! i love it when you give me background. i live on background. it lets me understand what in the?flinging flanging tarnation people are talking about.

    best of luck transitioning out of rotman, friend. i hope you find what you’re looking for.

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • transfer credits,  UTSC

    i hear the deer actually sit in class with you

    November 20, 2014

    Hi,

    I was just wondering what the policy was at UTSG for taking classes at other campuses. I’m seriously considering taking a few courses over at UTSC but wasn’t sure if this was allowed. if it is, would classes taken there be counted as transfer credits? Is there is a limit on the number of courses i’d be able to take? Could i complete a major/minor there rather than at st.george? Are the classes any different in significant ways (academic and other wise)?

    Would you recommend taking classes there?

    Any info would be really helpful,

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    it’s totally allowed! UTSC and UTM courses will show up on your transcript and count towards your CGPA just like a UTSG course. however, it’s a good idea to talk with your department about whether you meet the prereqs for any UTSC courses you want to take, AND whether those courses can be counted as program requirements here.

    there’s no limit that i could find, though you’ll find that there’s a limit to the amount of commuting that your soul is able to tolerate.

    all subject POSts you enrol in have to be UTSG, artsci subject POSts. you’ll likely find it impossible to complete all your prerequisites for a subject POSt using just UTSC credits.

    as fir differences, there’s nothing really substantial. the classes are different in that they’re different classes. that sounds stupid, but honestly – they’ll have a different syllabus, a different prof, and a different class size than the UTSG equivalent (if there is one).

    some general classes (like first year calculus or econ) are pretty similar between campuses and even between universities, but it all depends on the course. the best thing would be to call the department at UTSC that offers the courses you’re interested in, and just ask. there’s no general academic difference.

    although, you’re more likely to encounter deer at UTSC. so if you’re afraid of deer, i do NOT recommend taking classes there.

    but otherwise, if there’s something they offer that we don’t have here, yeah – go for it.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • alcohol

    alcohol? what’s alcohol?

    November 13, 2014

    Looking at U of T from Quebec where we have an 18 drinking age, Is it easy to drink(At trinity where I’m applying)? Or are there chill bars and convenience (LCBO) stores where you can pick up?

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    let me break this down to you from a business perspective, k?

    uoft is a city campus. we’re literally next door to yorkville, which is?the wealthiest neighbourhood in toronto, and we are directly south of the very fancy bloor st.

    that means that there are a lot of very rich people living around the university who are able to pay a lot of money for drinks at bars and clubs. which means that the bars and clubs around uoft don’t need to cater to young people.

    in a university town like waterloo or hamilton, the nightlife grows up around and caters to university students, resulting in cheaper, easier access to alcohol. here, the alcohol is usually expensive, and usually harder to come by.

    no college officially condones underage drinking, and trin is no exception. you can read their alcohol policy here. it’s pretty no-nonsense. for example, any events including alcohol to be held in the JCR (junior common room) has to be approved by the dean of students.

    obviously the elephant in the room is this: yeah, there are policies, but there are policies everywhere, and that’s never stopped university students from drinking.

    well…that’s true. and just like there are policies at every college, there are also students at every college. you’ve heard of newton’s first law of motion, right? a student at rest tends to stay at rest, and a student at a kegger will tend to move with constant velocity towards the keg.*

    if you really want alcohol, you’ll find your way to it. but no, i am not going to recommend places to you. what do you take me for? this blog has a .utoronto domain, man. you want to put me out of a job?

    anyway, askastudent is NOTHING if not a LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN and SAINT.

    cheers,

    aska

    *what do you mean, that’s not the real law? who are you, Newton? get out.

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  • probation,  suspension

    suspended from school – but not from LIFE

    November 11, 2014

    Hi, I’m currently a student who just came off academic suspension. I’ve been attending all my classes but I haven’t gotten any grades for anything yet because my current classes are full year courses. However, I’m starting to get anxiety again. I’m scared I won’t be able to bring up my CGPA by next semester and will be suspended once again for 3 years. That has been on my mind a lot lately and it’s starting to make me depressed. My question is if a person is suspended will I be able to apply to a college? Or do I have to wait three years. I know it have a chance to do well and I need to work hard, but having that 3 year suspension idea is really eating away at me. And have people gotten off academic probation after a one year suspension? Help! Thanks.

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    sure, people have gotten off probation after a one year suspension. it’s very possible. i don’t have any specific stats, but not everyone who has a one year suspension then goes on to be suspended for three years.

    the important thing is to establish a network of academic support at the university that can help you stay on track – if you do that, i’d say you have a good chance of getting off probation.

    suspension only restricts you from re-registering in the Faculty, but it doesn’t prevent you from taking classes elsewhere. of course, if you do apply to a college and they ask for your uoft transcript, it may be a good idea to explain why you were suspended, because the fact of your suspension may impact your admission to that college.

    however, it’s by no means not allowed, and if you are admitted to a college, you’re free to take classes there while you’re suspended at uoft. just keep in mind that any college courses you take while on suspension can’t be used as transfer credits to uoft.

    best of luck,

    aska

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  • scholarships/bursaries

    a little scholarship freak-out

    November 11, 2014

    Hellooo I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS btw im in grade 12 applying to utsg ok so basically i was reading the faqs page of the scholarships site and there was a president`s entrance scholarship that offers 2k. one of the requirements was to have a 92+ admission average INCLUDING PREREQUISITES. this last part is what i am confused about. i read about this same scholarship in my 2014-2015 viewbook that i picked up from my guidance office and it said NOTHING about prerequisite courses needing to be 92+ in order to be considered for this schoalrship. this is of concern to me because although I am pretty confident that my admission avg / top 4U courses will average to 92+, my top 3U courses do not average to 92+. this is mainly because of my grade 11 math mark which was an 81 – i got at least a 90 in all of my other grade 11 courses. i would hate it if my grade 11 math mark jeopardized my chances of getting such a great scholarship. please clarify as to whether prerequisite grade 11 courses need to average to 92+ or not, i`m confused because it doesn`t say so in the viewbook!!
    THANK U xo

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    don’t get your lederhosen in a twist there, amigo. you’ve just had a little misunderstanding, that’s all.

    they’re not talking about prereqs to grade 12 courses, they’re talking about your top 6 4U/M courses including prereqs for the stream you’re applying to.

    so if you’re applying to life sci, for example, it’ll be your top 6 Grade 12 courses including grade 12 english, calculus, and whatever else your program may require (likely bio and chem). basically, they’re just referring to your admissions average.

    no grade 11 courses. so don’t worry, it’s all gonna be okay.

    cheers,

    aska

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