askastudent - your student life specialists

taxes

this is what the utsu tax clinic is for

April 30, 2021

hello! it’s that time of the year again–tax time! i’m a first year currently and i’m completely lost on what “unused tuition transfers” are. i wasn’t employed in 2020 and the only “income” i received are the CESB and OSAP, but i don’t know if i have unused tuition or if i should transfer it to my parents. do you know anything about that? thanks! 🙂

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hey there,

i know today is tax day, so sorry for cutting it so close to the deadline! i literally just emerged out of a pile of finals an hour ago, and am back on here doling out advice.

i’m really not qualified to be a tax consultant, but i can try. this is what the CRA says about tuition transfers, including unused tuition transfers.

this turbotax explanation is also helpful, even a bit clearer:

“As a non-refundable credit, if the tuition amount is greater than the tax owed, the non-refundable credit can only be used to reduce or eliminate the student’s federal/provincial tax bill but won’t generate a refund. If you aren’t able to use the full amount of the credit, any unused credits can be carried forward to a future tax year, or transferred to a spouse/common-law partner or parent/grandparent.”

“Unused tuition credits calculated on Schedule 11 can be transferred to qualifying relatives. Spouses and common-law partners, parents and grandparents — including those of your spouse or partner — can be designated for all or part of the transferred amount.”

so it seems like, if you have a low income and aren’t owing much tax, claiming your tuition fees won’t do much in terms of getting you a refund. so the portion of your tuition that you can’t use to get credit then becomes “unused,” and you can transfer up to $5000 of that “unused” amount to a relative.

in the future, if you need help with taxes i’d recommend checking out the utsu’s tax clinic. a lot of students don’t know this resource exists, but accessing it will get you free one-on-one help with a student volunteer who’s trained with these things! much more reliable advice than mine, imo.

be Boundless,

aska

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admissions

back door entry

April 19, 2021

Hello! I’m in my second semester of 11th grade and I recently bumped UofT to my top choice school. Problem is I did really poorly in functions this year (low 60s), I plan on applying to life sciences (biodiversity and conservation biology). The requirements are English, Bio and Calculus. I’m getting a tutor this summer and shooting for low-mid 80s in Calc next year. Is it likely that I could be accepted? Or should I just apply to Humanities and try switching into life sci if I get accepted?

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hi there,

it’s great to hear that you’re hoping to come to u of t!

i struggle to answer questions like this because i’ve never been inside the admissions process, and what i do know about admissions from research is quite vague.

if you’ve taken functions 11 and are seeking to do better in calculus 12, you may want to note that u of t does consider grade 11 marks for life sciences admissions if grade 12 ones aren’t available. however, i’m not 100% sure how much of an equivalent functions is for calculus. and i can never really assess the likelihood of someone’s acceptance based on a partial account of their academic record — i get a lot of questions like yours, and unfortunately can’t give people the answers they want.

for a better answer, i’d recommend that you speak with someone from admissions. i’ve linked their contact info here. i’d ask them whether a midterm mark in calculus 12 would be considered with enough weight that they wouldn’t look at your functions 11 mark. i’d also ask what they think about applying to humanities and switching to life sciences later. i guess that’s kind of like using a back door into the admissions process — to me, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but i wouldn’t be surprised if there are some complications. so just check that over with someone who’d know better.

good luck with your tutor lessons this summer! i hope that goes well.

be Boundless,

aska

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one programs, UTM

do it!!!

April 19, 2021

Hello! I have been invited to apply to utmOne Scholars. Do you have any experience in these type of courses? Do you know if they are more difficult in grading? Thank you 🙂

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hey there,

i’ve never been in the utmONE scholars program, but i was in a similar first year seminar program at st. george. based on my own experience with courses like the ones utmONE offers, i’d really recommend that you apply.

small first-year seminars are the best investment you can make in your transition from high school to university. because of the class size, you get to know your profs and classmates much better, and have far more meaningful support in your learning. your coursework is more likely to be experiential or creative, too, which is always a plus given the heavy academic workload of first-year. the first-year seminars i took absolutely changed the course of my degree and i owe so much to having taken them.

however, i can’t say whether utmONE classes are graded harder than other utm courses. when i took special first-year seminars at st. george, i found that they were graded much easier than my large first-year introductory lectures. it looks like utmONE has more of an intentional research focus than the seminars i took, though, so i’m not sure how that’d affect the grading system. if you have specific concerns, this webpage lists an email address that you can contact with further questions. you can try sending them a message!

be Boundless,

aska

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criminology, subject POST

crime specialist!

April 15, 2021

Hello, I wonder if an 80 average in required courses will get me into the crime specialist!

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hey there,

crime specialist!

if you’re referring to the criminology specialist program under arts and science at st. george, then it unfortunately doesn’t look like an 80 average in required courses will get you past admission.

the faculty of arts and science calendar indicates that 80% is actually just the cutoff to be considered for admission. to make it into the program, you’ll likely need a higher average in CRI205, CRI210, and CRI225. but as that entry average changes each year, i won’t be able to tell you what it’ll be.

sorry i can’t provide you with any concrete assurances. i hope this helps clarify things, though!

be Boundless,

aska

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one programs

aska has not taken every course at u of t

April 15, 2021
Vic One (Stowe-Gullen) vs Trin One (Biomedical health) vs SMC One (Gilson – Faith and Rome)? How are they graded/assessed? What is it like to be a student in each? Is there a place I can go to find current students for SMC and Vic One?

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hey there,

unfortunately, i’ve haven’t taken these classes personally, so i’m not able to give you a complete rundown! i’m also not sure how they’re graded because i’ve never seen the syllabi.

here are a few ideas of things you can try to get more information:
1. get in touch with the program coordinator who oversees each course: victoria one, trinity one, and smc one. you can ask them if they’re able to pass on past syllabi or even put you in touch with previous students. i’d be surprised if a program coordinator doesn’t know a person or two that they can reach out to.
2. check out the videos on this webpage if you haven’t already — there are a few student and instructor testimonies that might help you
3. if none of those work out, you can also try contacting the student unions of each college with a ones program that you’re interested in. there’s a chance they’ll have someone on their team that’s been in the relevant ones class. here’s the contact info for vusac, st. mike’s, and the tcm. i can’t guarantee that you’ll get a response since it’s finals season, but it’s worth a try.
good luck making your decision! i hope i was able to point you in the right direction.

be Boundless,

aska
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colleges, innis, Transferring

innis LOVES you

April 2, 2021

Hi! I was just wondering, is it possible to switch colleges? I’m a first year in Vic right now, and I find that the resources (i.e. the writing centre) is much better at Innis. Just not sure if this is possible though. Thank you.

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hey there,

it is in fact possible to switch colleges! if you check out this webpage, click the “new students” drop down menu, and look for the “can i switch my college affiliation?” question, you’ll find the info about that there.

the tl:dr of it is that you have to submit a letter to the registrar explaining why you want to transfer colleges. i’ve heard that these transfers aren’t easily granted, so make sure the reasons you cite are legitimate.

i’d actually recommend giving the registrar’s front desk a call, so you can briefly explain some of your reasons and ask for advice on drafting the letter. you might be more successful that way.

i hope this helps, and good luck with transferring should you choose to move forward!

be Boundless,
aska

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odds are that won't be asked again

psychology! but also, acting!

March 23, 2021

Hi there. I am not a student at University of Toronto, but I am seriously considering applying to join this institution to study psychology. With this, I also have a passion for acting. My question is, since it takes quite a while to become a psychologist, I was wondering if I would be able to receive my diploma of acting while becoming a psychologist which would therefore save me around a year of a half. Thank you, I truly appreciate this, you are helping me a lot.

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hey there,

thanks for waiting for this answer!

to be honest, i’ve been quite stumped by your question because i’m not sure exactly what you’re asking. i believe you can double major in drama and psychology at u of t, if that’s what you’re asking, and you would be able to finish that double major in four years if you plan everything out well.

if you’re referring to getting a diploma in acting at another school while working towards a u of t psychology degree, you might consider studying as a part-time student. we do love part-time students around here — the association of part-time students (APUS) has the cutest lounge in the sidney smith building, with subsidized printing and free coffee or tea.

i will note that, if you are interested in practicing as a psychologist, you would need a master’s or doctorate, so that might be good to keep in mind as you plan for the future. if you’re just interested in graduating with a psychology degree, that path will be much simpler.

if this doesn’t answer your question or if you’re still confused, i would suggest getting in touch with admissions. their contact info is here. it may be easier for you to iron out the details of your plans over a phone call!

be Boundless,

aska

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academic offense

this ain’t my first rodeo

March 23, 2021
ive been accused of an academic offence dont even understand how considering my essay had a zero percent similarity on turnitin dont know what to do as this would be my second offence

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hey there,

being accused of an academic offence is always scary and difficult to navigate. i’m really sorry that you’re in this situation, and am grateful for your patience with my answer. i hope this is still useful to you!

what i do want to note is that a 0% similarity assessment on turnitin doesn’t guarantee that you haven’t committed an offence. listed here are some other potential ways you might run into trouble, including impersonating someone else, helping another student commit an offence, or submitting work you’ve previously obtained credit for.

i’m not really sure what your circumstances are so unfortunately, i can’t advise you well on this. what i can do is point you to the resources and supports that will help you get through this.

if you haven’t already reached out to your registrar’s office, i’d suggest that you do so. you can use all the guidance you can get, and the academic advisors at your registrar’s office are experienced at navigating these cases. i don’t believe anything you tell them can be used against you.

on this webpage, you can read up on potential consequences you may face, and under which circumstances specific consequences might apply. additonally, you can use the code of behaviour on academic matters to familiarize yourself with the full process you may face as your accusation plays out (although, if this is your second rodeo, you may already know what you’re getting into).

here are some key procedures outlined in the code of behaviour that i’d like to point out to you:
1. first, you should expect to meet with your instructor to discuss their allegations. nothing you admit in this meeting can be used against you.
2. if your instructor decides that you haven’t committed an offence, you’re good. if they do, your case gets passed to the department chair or dean, and you’ll meet with them as well as your instructor. crucially, you can bring counsel to this meeting.
3. if you admit to an offence, the dean or chair will impose an appropriate consequence on you. if you don’t admit to an offence, your case will get passed to the Provost, and perhaps be heard by a tribunal.
that’s what you can expect if your case moves forward. if you’re asking what to do, what i think you should do is familiarize yourself with these documents and reach out for support. i can imagine that this is a stressful situation to be in as well, so please don’t hesitate to access support through mySSP if you need it.

i hope this helped at least a little, and that your case turns out all right.

be Boundless,

aska
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breadth requirements

breadth req recs!

March 12, 2021

Hi! Arts student here. This might be a dumb question, but I’m having trouble finding good BR=4 and BR=5 requirements courses for next year. I only need 0.5 FCEs more, because I did AST101 last semester (and suffered a lot because it felt like hell lol). Do you have recommendations? Preferably a 200 course, but 100 would also be okay. (I’m first year right now). Sorry if this isn’t the place to ask.

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hey there,

this isn’t a dumb question at all — perfectly valid, and this is absolutely the place to ask!

if you’re more so into writing, reading, and conceptual analysis than you are into science, i’d recommend DTS300. not a single mathematical equation involved — when i took it, i wrote four (i think) papers, and managed to fill breadth 5. it’s a deeply fascinating course with a fantastic instructor, dr. kevin o’neill. however, there are some prerequisites, and i’m not sure how you’ll feel about that.

this new molecular gastronomy course also looks promising and is designed as a course for non-science students. as per your request, it’s a 200-level course.

apart from that, i don’t currently have any other recommendations… you might try asking other people in similar situations, since everyone has to do breadth requirements! you can also check reddit (although recommendations from reddit should always be taken with a grain of salt) or look out for calendar entries for br 4/5 courses that mention they’re designed with a humanities/social science student in mind. those courses may change year to year, but there are always at least a few offered.

your best bet is to think about what your strengths are and find a breadth course that those strengths will be useful for. often, if a science/math course is writing heavy, that will be noted in the course description.

good luck with the rest of your semester, and i hope you find a class that works for you!

be Boundless,

aska

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book and media studies

wish my skin would clear up as quickly as this confusion

March 12, 2021

Hiiii! I’m interested in doing a Book and Media studies major. I’m on degree explorer to try and plan stuff out (1st year right now) and the requirements on this degree explorer thing seem different from the one in the calendar, so I’m confused.

Some of the required courses in the calendar are SMC219, SMC228, and SMC229. In degree explorer, it says I need to take “All of BMS100H and BMS200Y and BMS201.”

Can you help clarify for me? I’m so confused on what the requirements are for this major!

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hey there,

it’s great that you’re planning things out using degree explorer! you’re doing your due diligence, which should save you from trouble later on.

i went on degree explorer to check this over and you’re right, there’s definitely a discrepancy. your confusion is very valid, because i’m confused too. i looked for the BMS courses on the timetable, and it seems like they’re not currently offered.

okay, so you’re getting a live narration of me looking into this. i went to st. mike’s website so that i could refer you to the contact for the BMS program, and check out what i found. this page explains that the program is currently in transition. the SMC courses you found on the calendar are no longer going to be offered, and the BMS courses on degree explorer will be replacing them.

i hope this helped! BMS is such a cool program — wishing you all the best with it if you decide to go ahead with it.

be Boundless,

aska

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psychology

psych, you thought you didn’t need calc

March 12, 2021

hello, i applied to utsg under humanities but just realized i would like to declare major for a life sci that requires you take calc (psych). the issue is i already have my gr12 schedule and didnt take calc. i really don’t want to, and honestly don’t think i can change my schedule for quad 4 now. if i take calc during summer school in july/aug after the june 2021 grad, will that credit count towards completion of gr12 calculus?

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hi there,

this is a pretty common problem! i went into our archives and dug up a post that explains what you can do. i thought about explaining the process anew for you, but it’s a crazy time of the semester and my time might be best spent answering more questions, so you can check that out here. tl:dr not the end of the world, you do have options! summer school is definitely one of them.

(just kidding, there’s no shame in doing what you gotta do!!)

if you have any concerns about your plans, you can also contact the department of psychology directly.

good luck!

be Boundless,

aska

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UTSC

i don’t even know how to pronounce clique

March 11, 2021

Hey I’m looking to be a first yr undergrad in the fall at utsc but I’m seeing a lot of stuff onlinr abt how cliquey utsc is and how’s there’s nothing much to do with clubs or student life. What’s your opinion on this? I’m an out of province stusent so I dont have any friends from high school coming.

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hi there,

unfortunately, i’ve never been a utsc student myself, so i can’t answer this question from personal experience. what i’ve heard is that utsc tends to have more local students, so i guess that could lead to cliqueyness if students are coming from the same high schools and already know each other. however, i don’t know how true this is because i can’t really verify it with anyone.

also, to be fair, i’ve found certain clubs and spaces at utsg to be quite cliquey as well. i think cliqueyness depends on the crowd you surround yourself with — and if you don’t like a crowd, you can always find another. in general, i’ve found that most u of t students mind their own business and won’t be found chatting with random strangers — but that’s not always true, and i’ve made friends from people randomly hitting me up in class as well.

there are certainly clubs at utsc, which you can find out more about here. i’m not really sure what’s on offer in terms of other student life, but that’s probably because i’ve never even been to utsc’s campus. with that said, i do think it’s possible to carve out a niche for yourself on campus.

if you take advantage of the opportunities you can find, make a sincere effort to approach new people, i think you can build a meaningful sense of community at utsc. it is a small campus, after all, so i think you’ll have a better shot at getting to know your classmates, professors, and administrators.

sorry i can’t be more helpful! wishing you all the best of luck with making your decision.

be Boundless,

aska

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first year, one programs, seminars

first new admit of the year!!

March 11, 2021

hello! recently got admitted to utsg under socsci. 90% sure i’ll accept. i was thinking currently i’d like to possibly double major in bio and psych once first year ends. i am considering applying for vic one bc it seems super cool but my question is, would it be foolish of me to apply to a vic one stream that doesn’t relate to my intended major (life sci ig)? for ex: applying to vic one frye? would i be better off just taking a couple regular courses that interest me along with my prereqs?

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hi!

i love this time of year because of all the good news about admissions that pours in — and you’re the first of 2021! congrats on getting in. i’m so excited for you!

i don’t think it’s foolish to apply to a vic one program that doesn’t relate to your intended majors. here are some good reasons to still take vic one:

vic one will offer you smaller, discussion-based (i think) classes, which means it’ll be a great way to make friends. many people i know made the friends that got them through their degree in a ones program, like vic one, trin one, or innis one. this is true for me too! u of t can be isolating, so an investment in friendships is worth it. a lot of the coolest people i know now were actually in vic one.

speaking of getting to know people, since class sizes are smaller, it’ll be easier for you to connect with your instructor and make sure they know your name and face. who knows — they might be a valuable connection for you down the road.

apart from that, first year is a great time to explore subjects of study outside what you think you’re interested in. you might find a new interest or learn something that will supplement your growth as a person! programs like vic one will be closed off to you once you become a second year, so if you’re interested, now is the best time to take the plunge.

finally, your degree will require you to complete breadth requirements, which i explain in this post if you’re not familiar. special first-year classes, like ones and seminars, can often be counted towards breadth requirements. you can check out what breadth reqs your potential vic one courses fulfill here.

tl:dr vic one isn’t useless to you just because it’s not related to your programs of study! there’s a lot of value that participating in the one program can bring to your degree, and i’d really encourage you to apply. doing first year ones/seminars absolutely changed the course of my degree and university experience — that’s how impactful they were.

i hope this post helped you, and congrats again!

be Boundless,

aska

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