• academic standing,  gap year,  OSAP,  UTM

    long time reader and asker

    May 23, 2018

    Hi Aska!

    So last year, I came to you with a huge conundrum about life, about quitting school, and other sad stuff like that. But now I am back from my well needed year off and am ready to take on the new school year! Except for the fact that I feel like I have completely lost all my smarticle-particle brain cells and am starting on a blank slate. Not so good.

    I left all my school related issues behind on my year off because I’d get these really bad anxiety and panic attacks from overthinking about my problems. Bad idea though. Because now I’m starting to feel a little panicky again because I pushed everything to the side and am completely lost.

    I have to write a letter for my OSAP Academic Probation since I dropped so many courses last year that OSAP started wondering where the heck their money went. They were mostly LWDs and so I couldn’t get a refund for the class. My registrar told me that it would be fine and nothing would happen BUT YA I GOT PLACED ON OSAP PROBATION SO SOMETHING DID HAPPEN BUT NOW I GOTTA FIX IT AND I NEED HELP. HELP.

    sorry, just freaked out there. i was in a really tough spot last year and was too stupid to not figure it out. so yeah.

    I also can’t find the notice they sent me through the mail so this is mostly based on my horrible memory. i swear, im like a grandparent.

    anyway, my first question(s) is/are: who do i send this ding-dang letter to? financial aid office or something? what’s their address? do i send one to some osap office as well? also, will it be ok for me to apply for osap during this time?

    ok second set of questions are related to a course i really wanna take this upcoming school year. funny story though, i put it on my enrollment cart and was super excited to figure out how to get to my classes and the time of travel it takes to get there. i looked it up on my handy-dandy physical map, and the BUILDING CODE DOES NOT EXIST AT ST. GEORGE. searched it up. found out its at UTM. great.

    will I still be allowed to take the course even though im registered at st. george? also, if i am allowed, how will i manage to get back and forth from each campus? apparently there’s a shuttle but where is it located? how much is the fare?

    Anyway Aska, thanks for listening and helping. i don’t know what it is–maybe it’s your casual way of answering questions or replying to each student, but i always feel a little better hearing back from you. and you make us all laugh. thanks again and sorry for the freak outs.

    hope to hear from you soon!

    ——————————————

    hi friend!

    so, i just went back and reread the answer that the past aska give you (there’s been an aska turnover since then!).  i’m sorry that you’re going through a bit of a rough time right now, especially since the year off was much needed. hopefully my response helps.

    since you’ve asked two sorta separate questions, i’ll answer in two sorta separate parts.

    1. osap probation

    so i’m assuming that the “letter” that you need to write for osap is this one? on it, it says to return it to enrollment services. you should also direct any questions you have about osap or financial aid to enrollment services. you can find their contact info here. unfortunately, i don’t know too much about osap (they’re notoriously confusing) so i think your best bet is getting in contact with enrollment services who have all the osap knowledge.

    2. taking courses at utm as a st. george student

    yes, this is allowed! these courses will count towards your 20 FCE needed to graduate and can count towards your program requirements.

    just keep in mind that, even though the course is being held at a different campus and faculty, you are still subject to st. george’s faculty of arts and sciences’ deadlines. so, for example, if you wanted to drop the course without academic offence, you’d have to do it before the st. george deadline, not the utm deadline. check out this link for the faculty of arts and sciences’ deadlines and this link for utm’s.

    also, if you want to use the utm course towards your program(s), you’ll want to make sure that the utm course actually has a relevant equivalent course at st. george (as in, the credit will transfer over and you can actually use it towards your program). you can do this through the transfer explorer. 

    as for the utm shuttle, it departs from hart house everyday in 20 minute intervals according to the past winter semester’s schedule. i can’t imagine the schedule changing too drastically in the fall, but look up the new schedule come fall to make sure. also note that it costs $6 each way for non-utm students (like yourself). i know tons of people who have taken the utm shuttle (either for classes or because their families live in mississauga and it’s lowkey cheaper than the ttc + whatever transit system they have in the ‘saug) and they’ve said that it’s a pretty great system, but can be slow during rush hour. the shuttle bus is probably your best bet for getting to and from utm.

    i’m really glad that taking a year off was productive and healthy for you, and i hope that the rough patch you’re going through right now passes. just know that if you ever need help, all you need to do is ask for it, which is the hardest part. and you’ve already done that!

    i highly suggest getting in contact with someone from your registrar’s office to discuss anything related to your academics, especially since you took a year off and are on osap probation. they’re super duper helpful and understanding. i would also suggest looking into the academic success centre, they’re a criminally underused service at u of t. you can book an appointment with a learning strategist (who does exactly what it sounds like, strategize how you can learn better) or attend workshops on academic success. getting some help and learning how you learn and can be more successful academically should (i hope) give you confidence when you come back to school. they’re awesome, check them out.

    good luck! you’re gonna kill it.

    model good luck GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • internal transfer,  prereqs,  psychology,  UTSC

    an interesting conundrum

    May 15, 2018

    Hey there,

    I’m a third year psych specialist at St. George. I recently received an acceptance for internal transfer at Scarborough. I took PSY201 in the summer of my first year and remember nothing of it. Scarborough has PSYB07 as a requirement, which that excludes PSY201 (which I took), so I will have to take the next PSYC08 or PSYC09. I am not confident at all in taking these courses since I remember nothing from my first stats course. How much do I have to remember to take them? Will I be lost? Is there anyway they will let me take PSYB07 and start over?

    Please help!!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    wow an interesting conundrum; actually WANTING to take a prereq even though you’ve been excused. most people wanna skip any prereq that they can. hat’s off to you, m’dude.

    unfortunately for internal transfers, or people transferring to u of t from another university, you can’t forfeit your transfer credits, unlike IB/AP credits. so, it looks as though you will have to take PSYC08/09 without taking PSYB07.

    however, it may be a good idea to get in contact with the department of psychology at utsc to see IF (and i strongly emphasize IF!!!!!!) they can make an exception for you.

    i hope that helps!

    and justice for all suffering GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

     

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  • commerce,  UTM

    …i think?

    May 11, 2018

    hi I’m in utm I was in a commerce program in my first year in 2016 but i didnt get into my subject post because one of the courses, I tried it again in 2017 and failed again. So right now its may 2018 and I want to repeat the course again so i want to know if i’ll get back into the program right now my acorn is blank there is no ‘invited to 2018-2019’ just wondering if that will change in the future.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    your question is extremely confusing and i have no clue what you’re saying. i’m assuming that you mean you’ve tried in 2016 and 2017 to get into a subject post, but couldn’t both times because you failed a required course? and you’re retaking the course right now so that you can get into the post for 2018-19? i think?

    in that case, you would’ve needed to request the post on ACORN before april 29th, and as you pointed out… it’s may 2018.  that’s probably why you don’t see the “invited to 2018-2019” thingy on your ACORN. you also wouldn’t have been invited to the post on ACORN if you haven’t completed the requirements of the post.

    i’m assuming that you’re taking summer courses right now to fulfill the requirements of the post?? in that case, you’ll need to request the post during the second request period between june 11- august 24. if you request the post during the second period, you’ll find out if you got in or not sometime in early september. THAT’S when you’d see if you were “invited to 2018-2019” or not.

    i THINK that answers your question… i’m still not quite sure what you mean.

    al pacino GIF

    good luck!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • CR/NCR,  subject POST,  switching

    new GPA, who dis?

    May 7, 2018

    Hello! I am currently pursuing an Accounting Specialization and have decided to switch programs. By switching programs, does my GPA reset if I don’t use any of my past credits in my new program? Thanks.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    so i’ve scoured the internet, looked through every u of t-sanctioned website, and basically the answer is… no. your GPA doesn’t reset if you switch programs.

    according to the faculty of arts and sciences’ calendar, your GPA is the weighted sum of all the courses you’ve taken at the faculty of arts and sciences. this means that every course you take in the faculty, regardless of whether or not you switch programs of study, counts towards your GPA. bummer, i know.

    lana del rey bummer GIF

    however, there are certain marks that aren’t included in your CGPA (though you probably know this already!) this includes any courses that you take CR/NCR, transfer credits, credits that you took at another university on a letter of permission or on exchange, and any courses designated as “extra.”

    the only way that you would be able to “reset” your GPA is if you transferred to another faculty, campus, or school. so, if that’s your case, congrats! your GPA is reset! if that’s not the case then, sorry, you’re stuck with your old GPA.

    if there’s any confusion or you have any other further questions, you should get in contact with your registrar’s office, who’ll be able to answer this question (AND SO MUCH MORE!)

    oh my god wow GIF

    i hope this helps!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • english,  first year,  newly admitted,  polisci,  programs

    double double (major) toil and trouble

    May 2, 2018

    Hey aska!
    I’m going to uoft St. George for an English undergrad in the fall of 2018. I’m also interested in doing a double major in political science. I’m a bit confused about how to choose courses (how to take ones that interest me, fulfill my program requirements, and are also are prerequisites to upper-year courses)  and am worried about the workload if I do go for a double major. (I think I heard somewhere that it would take an extra year?) Also, I know I’m not outstanding in English and the main reason why I want to study it is because I want  to improve in it. Since my highschool graduation is drawing closer, I’m beginning to have doubts about whether or not I can succeed regardless of how much effort I put in because it’s a world class program and I’m only average at best. In your experience, was there a huge step-up from  highschool English to university English? Were can I find information on courses available to me?
    Thanks so much!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    at u of t, in order to complete your degree, you have to do a combination of programs of study (or, POSt). you have to complete either: a specialist, two majors, or a major and two minors. so, your desire to do a double major is actually pretty common at u of t. being worried about the workload is valid, you ARE moving from a high school workload to a university workload. however, like i said, doing a double major is extremely common at u of t, with some students even piling on a minor with their double majors! i don’t think you will have any issues doing a double major. however, if you do, that’s ok too. and it’s ok to consider taking a reduced course load (less classes per semester) and take longer to graduate in order to work at a speed that works for you.

    god, if i could, i would grab every incoming first year student by the shoulders, give ’em a good shake, and scream “YOU CAN TAKE MORE THAN FOUR YEARS!!! TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!”

    listen to me omg GIF

    but… i digress.

    now to address the question of course selection. most students take 5.0 FCE (full course equivalents) in a year. 5.0 credits is considered the standard for a full time student and it’ll allow you to graduate in 4 years (5.0 FCE times 4 years = 20 FCE needed to graduate). because first year is general and you can take anything you want, it’s a good idea to check out the required courses for your intended programs of study. so in your case, if you want to do an english and polisci double major, you’d want to see what the required courses are to get into those programs as well as what first year courses are offered in those programs.

    for english, there aren’t any prereqs to get into the major. however, you should probably take a first year english course anyways as most second year courses and other upper year courses require the completion of a first year course. check out this link for all the first year english courses that would count towards an english POSt.

    for polisci, you need to have achieved at least a 67% in POL101Y or POL200Y or one POL FCE or equivalent in half courses. so it would probably be a good idea to take one of those courses in your first year so that you can get into a polisci major after first year.

    you 100% should get in contact with your college registrar’s office and set up an academic advising session. they will be able to go more in-depth with you and discuss all your options. you can also get in contact with the program advisers of english and polisci respectively. check out this link for their contact info.

    as for whether or not you can succeed “regardless of how much effort [you] put in”… well, like i said earlier, the transition between high school and university can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. if you find yourself struggling academically, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the academic adviser at your registrar’s office, or to contact your prof/ TA, who are also great resources and can really help you if you’re struggling in a course. you should also look into the academic success centre, where you can make appointments a learning strategist who can help you learn more about how you learn.

    another great resource at u of t, especially for kids in programs like english and polisci, are the writing centres. you can book an appointment and bring your assignments to them before the deadline, and the people who work at the writing centre can go through the assignment with you and provide insight on how you can write a better assignment. they’re awesome. they’ve saved many a paper of mine.

    joe jonas relief GIF

    ok, phew! that was a LOT of information. i really hope this helps. if you have more questions, please get in contact with the people i’ve linked above (especially your registrar’s office, they’re super helpful and a great first contact point for anything academic).

    good luck, see you on campus in september!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • enrollment,  french,  programs

    french it up!

    April 30, 2018

    Hi,

    What are the differences between the French programs at U of T St George? What is the best program to take if someone with very minimal french knowledge (near beginner) would like to be at a high B2/C1 level by the time of graduation?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    at u of t, we have a lot of very different french programs that all have different focuses, so it all depends on what aspect of french you’re interested in.

    if you’re interested in ONLY learning the french language, you’d want to enroll in the french language learning program. there isn’t too much information on the website or the faculty calendar about what exactly this program entails, but it looks like students registered in this program only take french LANGUAGE courses, meaning that you just learn the language itself.

    if you’re interested in french language AND literature, you’d want to enroll in the french language and french literature program. again, there isn’t too much info online, but it looks like students take both strictly language courses as well as literature courses that are taught in french.

    if you’re interested in french language AND linguistics, you’d want to enroll in the french language and french linguistics program. once again, there isn’t that much info online, but it looks like students are focused on both learning the french language itself as well as the linguistic system that makes up the french language.

    phew! ok, that’s a lot of different programs with a lot of vague information. i think that, from your question, you’re looking to just learn the language itself? in that case, you’d probably want to just enroll in the french language learning program. you can take a look at some of the links i’ve put above to see what the required courses are and if they interest you.

    keep in mind that you will have to take a placement test in order to be put into any french language courses.

    again, because there isn’t a lot of info out there online, i suggest getting in contact with the french department itself who’ll be able to give you more information and better explain the differences between the french programs.

    i hope this was helpful! go out there and french it up!

    french bonjour GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • admissions,  IB,  UTM

    utm giveth, but can utm taketh away?

    April 27, 2018

    Hi!
    I can’t express how much this blog has both entertained and educated me– mostly on things that don’t apply to me, but informational all the same.

    Well, to get the the meat of things, I’m afraid that my offer to U of T will be revoked??

    Basically, even though my IB predicted score is a grand total of 24 (barely passing, my god), I somehow got an offer of admission from U of T Mississauga for Psychology (which is insane because I’m getting a 2 in math a.k.a. not passing).

    I hear a lot of my peers saying things like “Oh yeah, you can drop 6 diploma points and UBC won’t revoke your offer lolol!!” or “So and so was worried because, with Waterloo, you can only drop one point!!1!1″… Where can you even find this information, friends??? This would be really freaking helpful to know for U of T so I could skip having a panic attack everyday about my fate in the coming months.

    Anyways, I’d just like to know your thoughts. Though I know that time is the only thing that can truly soothe my anxiety, it’s nice to have more of an idea of what I’m dealing with; even if a solid answer can’t be given.

    Thank you!!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    first of all, congrats!

    when you were admitted to u of t, you would have received a letter detailing the conditions of your acceptance. that letter can be found on your joinid portal, or it would’ve been mailed to you physically when you were admitted. you need to check out what the the conditions of your acceptance are, according to that letter, as they differ from program to program and campus to campus. you will need to fulfill the conditions of your acceptance that are laid out in the letter in order to keep your acceptance.

    if you can’t find the letter, or it’s way too confusing for you, or whatever, then you should get in contact with UTM. check out this link for UTM admission inquiries’ contact info. give ’em a call, they’ll have way more answers re: this issue than i do!

    calling karen gillan GIF by HULU

    i hope this helps!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • ccit,  enrollment,  UTM

    maybe we are both ignorant

    April 23, 2018
    hi! do you know where i can find ccit major’s minimum cgpa requirement? i’ve checked their academic calendar already and either it’s not there or i’ve skipped over it? thanks in advance!
    ——————————————
    hi!
    i was about to make some snarky joke about how easy it was to find the ccit calendar with all the requirements listed but then… i couldn’t find the minimum cgpa requirement. so, jokes on me i guess.
    according to the ccit calendar, it says that “each year the ICCIT program sets a minimum required CGPA. This will vary from year to year and is based, in part, on supply and demand.” i’ve looked around on the iccit website and the course calendar and couldn’t find anything either. this might mean that they haven’t set the minimum required cgpa yet, or that we are both ignorant and don’t know where to look.
    jerry cant see GIF by HULU
    you should get in contact with the ccit department themselves. check out this link for info on how to contact the student adviser/ program coordinator.
    i hope this helps!
    good luck.
    xoxo,
    aska
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  • commerce,  extra courses,  UTM

    try, try again

    April 20, 2018

    Hi,
    So I am a first year commerce student at utm and im almost positive im probably not going to get into the post that applied for. If i don’t get in, what are my options in terms of getting into the commerce program? I hear you can apply again after summer, so is that in terms of me taking a course in summer to boost my gpa?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    so just to confirm, you’re saying that you don’t think that you will get the required minimum marks in the required classes?

    according to this link, you can apply for a subject post starting march 11, and if you meet all the requirements by may, you will be admitted in may. however, if you don’t meet the requirements by may, you can retake the courses over the summer and then request the post again starting june 11 and will be notified by early september. so yes! if at first (in may) you don’t succeed, try, try again (in june, after taking in the required courses).

    just remember that any course you retake to get into a post will be designated as an “extra” course and will show up on your transcript as “EXT”. this means that it will not count towards your GPA or the 20 credits needed to graduate. it does count towards subject post requirements.

    i hope this makes sense! good luck 🙂

    america ferrera yes GIF by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • deferral,  exams,  petition

    on internships and deferred exams

    April 16, 2018

    Hi! Many of the summer internships I have applied to are during the summer exam period (june). Since I am planning on taking summer courses and would like to intern (if i get an offer lol) is there any way i could reschedule my exams if there’s a scheduling conflict? would i be allowed to take my exams earlier than the scheduled dates? I’m assuming employers wouldn’t like an intern taking a day off during a short 10-week internship period. thanks!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    to the best of my knowledge, you can’t write an exam BEFORE the date, you can only defer an exam to a later date.

    to defer an exam, you will need to file a petition.  you will need to make an appointment with your registrar’s office, where they can walk you through the petition process as well as help you with any aspect of  your petition that you may be unsure about. they can also give you information on any other options you may have– just in case the advice i’ve given you isn’t the greatest.

    this is still super in advance, though. and while i commend you for thinking ahead, there isn’t much that you can do right now except for wait. once you know when your internship will be and when your exam(s) in june will be, then you can start looking into deferring your exam.

    i hope this helps! good luck with everything!

    jane krakowski good luck GIF by A Christmas Story Live

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • first year

    incoming: lots of info

    April 13, 2018

    Hi! I recently got an offer for social sciences and I wanted to accept but I’m suddenly having second thoughts 🙁 I heard nightmarish stories about how difficult and bad undergrad is. I get that it’s expected but I dont want to be completely swallowed to the point where I can’t even have fun/breaks. Im mentally ill which makes things really hard and I’m scared to accept because of this. I was thinking to try first year and see what happens but Im worried I wont handle it. I dont know what to do.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    first of all, congrats!

    excited will ferrell GIF

    second– these questions are always super hard for me to answer because everyone has a different experience at university and everyone has different measures for what’s “difficult and bad.” i totally understand where you’re coming from, though. the leap from high school to university can be scary, especially if you’re living away from home for the first time– mental health problems or not! i just want you to remember that help will always be made available to those who look for it. and you’ve already looked for it (by sending me this question) so you’re already part way there!

    i also just wanna put a disclaimer on this post: i am just a student blogger, so this response is really from my own personal experience and what i know as a student at u of t. i highly suggest that you get in contact with an adviser at your college or faculty’s registrar office who can give you more detailed academic advice and point you in the direction of resources that i may not be privy to.

    so, without further ado, here are (SOME of) my tips on getting through uni, based on my personal experiences and knowledge.

    1. know what resources are at your disposal

    this is something i wish i knew more about in my first year. transitioning from high school to uni can be super overwhelming, especially if you feel as though you don’t know where to turn for info. this is a really good list/ compilation of a lot of the resources you might need during your time at u of t. here are a few that i’ve found personally really helpful:

    • health and wellness– it’s where you’ll find info on all the health related services at u of t, including mental health services. you can find out what services are offered as well as how to use those services and how to book appointments
    • student life– where you’ll be able to find info on anything non-academic
    • UTSU– university of toronto’s student union. you can find info about their clubs and events through their website. they also have all the info on the health insurance that is offered to all undergrads at u of t as well as how to opt out of it

    2. get involved!

    if you’re a commuter, this’ll give you an excuse to stay on campus after class/ come to campus before classes. it’s also a good way to make friends, whether you’re a commuter or not. i’ve personally found it really nice to be able to do something (non-academic) on campus that is fun and that i’m passionate about, all the while meeting and becoming friends with like-minded people. it’s made my uni experience a lot better and fuller.

    you can check out ulife for a list of clubs, or just check out the various booths at the UTSU clubs fair during orientation week! tons of clubs and organizations will be there recruiting first years.

    3. meet with an academic adviser at your registrar’s office

    this is another thing i wish i did in my first year. meeting up with an academic adviser can be really helpful as they can thoroughly explain to you all the degree requirements that can be very confusing and overwhelming. you can also discuss what you want to major/minor in after first year and they can discuss options and help you get there. i personally find it very comforting and calming to have all my academic questions answered by a capital-A Adult.

    phew that was a lot of info!

    thats a relief GIF by SYFY

    university is meant to be a time for growth, and growth is meant to be a little uncomfortable–but i know how hard and scary that can be. hopefully this helps a little, though. bear in mind (again) that this is all from my own personal experience. as i said before, just know that help will always be given to anyone who asks for it. if you do choose to come to u of t and you do find yourself in need, don’t feel as though you can’t ask for help. i promise you, we are all rooting for you!

    good luck, young one.

    baby smiling GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • first year,  psychology

    all in good time

    April 9, 2018

    Hello,

    I have been accepted in ST GEORGE CAMPUS for the Cognitive Science program in Humanities (September 2018 intake), is it possible for me to transfer to the Psychology program in Life Science by taking the PSY 100H1 – Introductory Psychology in my first year (since the UoftT website says this course is mandatory for the psychology program).

    If it is possible, are there any other courses I should take in order to be able to transfer to the Psychology program in Life Science.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    basically, life sci and humanities are enrollment categories and they don’t really affect you after your first year. they’re just in place so that certain students get priority for certain courses (ie. if you’re in life sciences, you can enroll in life sci courses before students in say, the humanities).  first year at u of t is general, which just means that you aren’t committed to any specialist/ major/ minor (or in u of t terms, program of study) yet. so, if you wanted to do psychology after first year, you totally can! the enrollment category you are in right now won’t affect what programs or courses you can enroll in in the future.

    so, like you said, you would need to take PSY100H1 if you want to enroll in a psychology POSt (program of study) after your first year. according to the faculty calendar, you need to get at least a 75% in PSY100, grade 12 calculus, and 4.0 FCE (full course equivalents) in order to apply for psych.

    there aren’t really any other courses that you should take in order to get into psych in second year as i think most courses have PSY100 as a prerequisite.

    i hope this was helpful!

    good luck, looking forward to seeing you on campus in september!

    arturo vidal love GIF by FC Bayern Munich

    xoxo,

    aska

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