• syllabus

    syllabi for my guy

    July 18, 2017

    Hi aska! Can I ask professors (who don’t know me) during the summer for syllabi of their fall/winter courses I intend on taking or is that weird?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    yes! you can email profs and ask them if they’d be able to send over a copy of their syllabus. some profs are a little more strict about their syllabi though, and might not send it to you. some profs don’t finalize their syllabus until later on too, so you might not be able to get syllabi from those profs. but it is 100% acceptable to email a prof or contact the department to ask if you could see the syllabus.

    hope this helps! get that education!

    school yeah test education teacher GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • courses,  wait list

    why are there so many hunger games comparisons to u of t

    July 17, 2017

    Hey Aska how are you? I’m just not quite understanding the waitlist process. I was put onto a waitlist for my priority group which had a certain number spaces (all of which are full) but it seems that my rank has actually increased rather than go down since yesterday. Do you know why that is? Also when August 4th comes and the merging of the waitlist occur , are 4th years given priority , then 3rd and so on? Thanks a lot!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    i’m good, thanks for asking. i feel like no one ever asks aska how they’re doing, so thank you kind asker.

    i have no idea why your rank in the wait list went up, not down. i guess the only thing i could tell you is… well, sh*t happens? sorry there isn’t really a better explanation.

    i do have an answer for the second part of your question! when august 4th rolls around and the priority drops, all the different wait lists will collapse into one and your position in the new wait list will be determined based on when you got into any wait list for the course. so, for example, if you were the third person to be in a wait list, regardless of your priority group, you will be the third person on the new wait list.

    i hope this helps and i hope this makes sense (lol). good luck, course enrolment is hell.

    may the odds be ever in your favour.

    katniss everdeen hunger games katniss hunger games s GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • breadth requirements,  degree requirements,  first year

    the scary world of degree requirements

    July 17, 2017

    Hello! I’ll be a first year student soon and I was look at the breadth requirements page and I don’t get what any of it means? FCEs? 100 series? 300+ series? What??

    ——————————————

    hi!

    welcome to u of t and the annoying and confusing world of degree requirements!

    basically, you need 20 FCE (full course equivalents, which means you could take 20 full year courses, 40 half year courses, or any mix as long as it adds up to 20 full course equivalents) to graduate. within those 20 credits, there are certain requirements that you need to fulfill. according to this, you need to have at least 6.0 FCE of 300/400-level courses with at least 1.0 400 series, and no more than 6.0 100-level courses.

    but what does this all mean!??!

    the “level” of a course denotes what year that course is meant to be taken in. 100 being first year, 200 being second year, etc. you can tell what “level” a course is from the first number in the course code. for example, ENG140 is a first year or 100- level course. of course, these levels are all suggested and oftentimes upper year students take a lower level course in order to complete requirements. as long as you don’t go over the max of 6.0 100-level courses and as long as you take at least 6.0 300+ level courses, you’ll be good!

    this brings us to the elusive breadth requirement. the breadth requirement is the university’s way of making sure that we turn out somewhat well-rounded. there are 5 “categories”, all corresponding to a different area of study. you need to complete 1.0 FCE in 4/5 categories or 1.0 FCE in 3/5 categories and than 0.5 FCE in the remaining two categories. for the most part, whatever program you’re interested in will fulfill at least 2 or 3 of the categories, so you just need to look at completing the other 2 or 3. though a lot of students decide to get their breadth requirement out of the way in first year, it doesn’t really matter when you do it, as long as they’re done before you graduate.

    i hope this helps! i know this is a lot and can be really confusing. don’t hesitate to reach out to your college registrar to set up an academic advising session just to figure some stuff out. it can be really helpful.

    see you on campus in september!

    happy loop yay celebrating kermit GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • hart house,  tcard

    getting swole thanks to incidental fees

    July 14, 2017

    Incoming student here. Does my Tcard give me access to the athletic centre or other on-campus gyms? Or do I have to pay for a membership?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    your t-card gets you into all the gyms on campus- hart house, athletic centre, and goldring! memberships to these gyms are included in your tuition as compulsory incidental fees. once you get charged tuition on ACORN, you can check your invoice to see a breakdown of your incidental fees. as long as you are a student at u of t (and paying incidental fees) you will have access to those gyms!

    hope this helps!

    dog running dogs gym exercise GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • IB,  transcripts

    carry on, carry on

    July 13, 2017

    Hi,
    I’ve been admitted to the Faculty of Arts and Science; I’m an international student from Hong Kong. This year will be my first at UofT. I don’t know if this is your area of specialty but I have a question regarding the submission of my final transcript.

    I completed the international baccalaureate diploma. I ultimately managed to meet my conditional offer from UofT. However, I sent a request to the IB to send off my transcript to UofT on the 5th of July, two days before results were released to me. They said it would take 10-15 business days to send off. However, I realised later that on my offer of admission, my transcript is supposed to be received by July the 14th. I have already emailed the IBO to see if they can speed up the process, but have not yet received any reply.

    I am quite worried about what will happen if my transcripts are not received in time. I have already asked the admission department, but was wondering if you may have any insight on my issue, or any advice to offer. Thank you in advance!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    it’s okay if your transcript is a little late. it would be max, like, 6 days late (i think? my math is bad) which is totally okay. as long as u of t gets it ASAP, you will be okay.

    i know that it’s really stressful and anxiety-inducing, but trust me, people are late all the time and people continue to carry on and do fine. in fact, you’re coming to u of t and toronto. being late for things is kinda our thing.

    my only advice is to keep calm, wait for the school to receive your transcript, and look out for that email from u of t stating that the conditions on your conditional offer have been satisfied.

    i hope this helped. i look forward to seeing you on campus in september!

    SpongeBob SquarePants spongebob squarepants cartoon nickelodeon thumbs up GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • references

    talking to others is hard

    July 13, 2017

    hello hello. How do I approach someone in a senior administration position about nomination letters and letters of support for scholarships and awards?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    dude, talking to people is so hard and it’s even harder when they’re in a position of authority.

    i would suggest just making an appointment with the person you have in mind and just being polite and straight-up about what you want. if you’re making the appointment over email, be as formal and cordial as possible. if you’re making it over the phone, be polite and amicable as possible. maybe even practice what you’re gonna say a few times.

    i’d also suggest asking someone you have an established relationship with. maybe there was a project you did for the registrar’s office or you were involved in an extracurricular where you had to be in contact with a senior administrator. if there’s someone that knows you well and has experience working with you, they would be a great option. in that case, i would remind them (when you’re making the appointment) of who you are and how you know them. yes, you’re special, but people are busy and forget.

    even if the person you have in mind doesn’t know you, i’d still reach out to them for an appointment. strike up a friendly conversation and see where it goes from there. i know that talking to people is incredibly hard (trust me, i’m an internet entity, i don’t talk to people in real life) but there’s nothing to lose!

    good luck!

    excited rabbit bunny luck good luck GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • Uncategorized

    waiving goodbye to requirements

    July 12, 2017

    how can you get your program requirements waived?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    if you want to get a program requirement waived, you’d have to get in contact with the specific department that hosts your program. here is a list of every department and section at the university. it’ll redirect you to the department’s website and you can find their contact info there. i’m not gonna search that ish up for you, bro.

    hope this was helpful. good luck!

    DNCE dog hello nicki minaj puppy GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • subject POST

    s’all good baby baby

    July 12, 2017

    I realized that I don’t really want to pursue the major that I applied for anymore, so I’m considering changing my major. However, the major that I’m interested in, is in another department. How difficult is it to change departments?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    well, you can change your subject POSts up until you want to graduate, as long as you have what is needed to enroll in the POSt.

    as for how “hard” it is to change departments, it really shouldn’t be an issue. as long as you have the prereqs for the major (ex. any GPA threshold or required courses) you should be able to enroll. however, if the switch is drastic, you might need to catch up on your new major’s required courses. this isn’t a big deal, you might just not be able to finish in 4 years. but again, this is NO BIGGIE AT ALL! 

    if you’re going into your second year and you’re applying for your subject POSts for the first time right now, it shouldn’t be an issue at all. again, as long as you have the prereqs for the program.

    i hope this helps! good luck on your new endeavor.

    bart simpson season 3 episode 19 3x19 no problem GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • credits,  first year,  one programs

    the first credits are so special

    July 12, 2017

    Good day!

    I would like to ask a question regarding enrolment. I accepted a One Program Gradients of Health & Wellbeing in an Urban Mosaic (Health Studies) and I think it is worth half credit. Does that mean I have to take another four courses? If so, I am only going to have 4 and a half credit for the first semester? Sorry, it really confuses me. I know that I have to take five credits every semester. Please enlighten me. Thank you.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    actually, according to this, that particular ones program is worth 1 full credit. in that case, you do only need to take 4 more FCE (full course equivalents) for a total of 5 FCE.

    most students take 5 FCE every school year (fall and winter semester). this could be 10 half credit courses, 5 full year courses, or any combination of the two. you can check out this website for more information about course loads. it’s a little complicated looking, but just know that as long as you’ve got a total of 5 FCE at the end of second semester, you’re good!

    hopefully this helps! looking forward to seeing you on campus in the fall!

    GIPHY Studios Originals reaction good thumbs up good job GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • admissions,  nursing

    hello again

    July 11, 2017
    hey aska!
    I submitted a BScN related question about a month ago. I’ve done more research and still have a few questions. I know one of the requirements to apply for the nursing program is 10 FCE. This means I can apply after my second year of undergrad but I’ve heard that there’s a greater chance of getting accepted if I complete an undergrad before applying. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to switch into nursing but would prefer to graduate in 4 years? Also I read that each prerequisite must be completed with at least 60%. I just finished my first year and completed BIO120+BIO130 with 70s but CHM135+CHM136 with 50s. Can I choose to use my bio courses as prerequisites instead of my chm courses? thanks guys!
    ——————————————
    hi!
    you don’t need to be in your second year to apply to the BScN program, that’s just when you can start applying for the program. basically, once you’ve hit 10 FCE, you can start applying. however, if you don’t think your marks are strong enough to apply after 10 FCE, you could wait until third or fourth year. it’s all up to you! it’s not that you’ll have a better chance of getting accepted if you apply after you’ve completed your undergrad, it’s just that they have more marks to look at and you have more time to boost your GPA.
    you can’t choose what the admissions committee does and doesn’t see. according to this page outlining their application process, you have to submit an official transcript, meaning they would have access to everything. i can’t find where it says that you need a 60% in the prereq courses, but you need at least a 3.0 GPA in order to be eligible. 
    all that being said, the only advice i can really give you if you want to finish in four years is to just apply after your 10 FCE (or after second year) and work really hard during your second year to boost your GPA. i would also look at the other admissions requirements and work to make those really good. look for a couple of amazing references and write a slam-dunk personal statement. that’s how you could differentiate yourself against the other applicants.
    if finishing in four years isn’t a big deal, you could also keep trying until you get in, even if it’s after your second year.
    i hope this helps! good luck in all your future nursing endeavors.
    spongebob patrick spongebob squarepants luck motivational GIF
    xoxo,
    aska
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  • credits

    mission possible

    July 11, 2017

    is it possible to graduate in 3 years?

    ———————————————

    hi!

    yes it is. you’d have to take 6 FCE every year for three years (for a total of 18 FCE), plus 2 FCEs worth of summer courses for the total of 20 FCE that you need to graduate. you could take the 2 summer FCE either all at once or spread them out over 2 summers. this would allow you to graduate in june of your third year.

    though it is totally within the realm of possibility, it’s important to remember to take your time. if it suits your pace to finish in 3 years, then go for it! if somewhere along the line, you find that you need to drop a course or two, then do that and take an extra semester or two! there’s no one way to finish a degree and i wanna beat up every high school councilor or american college movie for perpetuating this stupid and (in my opinion) incorrect idea of university. it isn’t always a 4 year journey. 

    i hope this helps! good luck on your mission.

    tom cruise mission impossible mission impossible 1996 mission impossible rewatch GIF

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • economics,  housing,  sociology,  switching

    options, stacks on stacks of options

    July 10, 2017

    Hey aska!
    I’m doing a sociology specialist at the moment and entering my third year,
    but I want to look out for other majors. I’m kind of interested in economics
    at the moment, and want to take the two full year courses for the major
    prerequisites. However, I don’t know how smart that is (taking 2 full year
    courses just for the sliver of the chance of getting in) considering I’m
    not very good at math or time organization – I had to climb up from a 0.8
    GPA in first year because of a rough transition, and now my GPA and mental
    health are more secure I want to try branching out. I also want to ask if
    me being in third year affects my chances of applying to the program, since
    so many incoming first years have probably gotten a head start.Thanks for
    your reply:0

    ——————————————

    hi!

    being in third year does not affect your chances of getting into the program at all, you can apply for a subject POSt up until you want to graduate.

    as for whether or not it’s “smart” to take 2 full year courses in order to get into the major, i would definitely suggest at least trying. according to the department of economics’ website, you need both an ECO and MAT requirement and certain marks achieved in those courses. if you’re worried that it’s not “smart” because you’re bad at math and time management (which is extremely relatable to me), you could at least try enrolling in those courses, see how you do, and then drop before the deadline (this year, it’s november 6th for F courses and february 20th for Y courses). no harm, no foul.

    twin peaks okay smiling thumbs up dale cooper GIF

    if you’re really serious about enrolling in the econ major, you could also try taking just one of the courses this year or starting with both and dropping one if you need to. then, you could take them as summer courses later on or the year after. the only issue with that option is that it might further extend the time spent on your undergrad degree, but if that isn’t a big deal for you, then this is a good option in my (non-professional) opinion.

    i really believe that you can achieve whatever you put your mind to, but also know that there are other options that you can explore if the initial plan doesn’t work out. i would also suggest making an academic advising session with your college registrar’s office. i’m sure they’d be able to help!

    i hope this helps! good luck!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • CIE,  exchange

    let’s goooooooooo

    July 7, 2017

    Can I apply international exchange in my fourth year (so I’m going in my fifth year)? Also must I take courses related to my program? Is it possible to graduate right after exchange, without having to take any courses back here? Thanks!

    ——————————————

    hey!

    this is all within the realm of possibility but you should get in contact with the CIE (centre for international experience).  though it is hypothetically and technically possible for you to go on exchange in your fifth year, take courses related to your program and graduate right after, it’s all dependent on what the people at the CIE say.

    you could also check out your eligibility for exchange here.   i would also check out this page to check whether or not an exchange program is right for you. a

    i’m sorry i don’t really have a straight-forward answer for you, these things can be a little iffy. anyways, it’s all possible, but not certain. get in contact with the CIE and they will be able to give you more information than i, a humble student blogger, can.

    Obama hello obama barack obama wave GIF

    hope this helps!

    xoxo,

    aska

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