• courses,  first year

    ol’ reliable 5.0 FCE

    July 7, 2017

    Hello..
    I am a new first year student starting this Fall..
    I want to ask from experiences.. whether it is too hard for a first year student to take 5.0 credits for the Fall/Winter semesters all at once.. and do not taking any summer course. I am worried since the first year is really important.

    Thank you.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    let me just take this chance to welcome you to u of t!

    jimmy fallon hello hi fallontonight hey GIF

    as for whether or not it’s “too hard” for a first year student to take 5.0 FCE (full course equivalents) or credits, it all really depends on your pace. most people in first year take 5.0 FCE and it’s considered standard to take 5. as long as you are taking more than 3.0 FCE, you’ll be considered a full time student. also keep in mind that if you are taking 3.5 FCE or fewer, you will have to pay a per-course fee, rather than a program fee. 

    you should also know that there is absolutely no shame in taking less than 5.0, if that’s what you need. life happens, and sometimes you need to drop a course or two. though 5.0 FCE would allow you to finish in four years, don’t forget that it’s 10000% okay to take more time. honestly, every frosh should get slapped with a giant poster board that says “IT’S FINE TO TAKE MORE THAN FOUR YEARS” carried by a parade of students yelling “TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!”. maybe instead of marching with your college at the utsu parade during frosh week, first year students should stand to the side while upper year students scream affirmations and “IT’S OK!!!” at them. orientation week planners- hit me up.

    anyways… 5.0 FCE is completely doable and is standard. but don’t forget that if you need more time, it’s totally fine.

    i hope this helps and welcome to u of t!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • residence

    kin you find me housing?

    July 4, 2017

    I am a prospective student of U of T St.George campus undergrad. I received a late acceptance email from Toronto (I was waitlisted). I accepted my offer to queens, but i wish to change to Toronto. If I was to transfer, would I have the capability to go into residence? And would I have the option to choose which residence housing to go into? Is it too late for the 600 dollar deposit?And are there spots left to go into residence at all? The faculty I would be going into is Kinesiology.

    ——————————————

    hi!

    that’s a sticky situation, but i’m glad you’re considering transferring to u of t!

    i’m not 100% sure if you’d have the capability to go into res. while u of t does have a first year res guarantee, they would usually give you next steps for applying to res in your acceptance letter.

    if i were you, i’d get in contact with the faculty of kinesiology and ask them what the next steps for you would be. they would have way more information than me and they would have faculty specific knowledge (i’m in artsci, so i don’t have tons of info on other faculties, unfortunately).

    i would also get in contact with u of t’s housing services. they would be able to help you find a place, whether it be on-campus residence or somewhere off-campus.

    it might also be helpful to check out this link about residence in general.

    i really hope this helps! good luck!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • references

    don’t ask us about the babies

    June 28, 2017

    Hello askas (ive heard that there are two now)! I am applying for a few internships and I need some academic references. I also may need some for future grad programs! So I read your previous posts on profs and references. Could I ask TAs for references and if so, what approach should I take? Are there other people besides profs and TAs who can provide academic references? Or would references from TAs and other ppl be useless? Thanks for your time(:

    ——————————————

    hi!

    yep, there are now two askas running around the place. we are united by our frozen hearts, love of gifs, and distain for math. we’re also lowkey both beyonce. it’s a really really snappy work environment.

    academic references are usually instructors in a course, so usually a prof. i know that sometimes you form more relationships with your TAs, but academic references are usually the people who teach the course material. sucks, i know.

    if you have a TA you really really wanna use as a reference, i would get in contact with the organization that you’re trying to intern for or check out their application guidelines to see if they accept TAs or other people as references.

    good luck! hope this helps!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • admissions,  nursing

    lemme refer you to the FAQ

    June 27, 2017

    hello aska! id like to apply to the undergraduate program for nursing. I know applicants should have a 3.0+ gpa, a work related reference and a academic reference. I wasnt originally planning on nursing & i was slacking in my classes so my gpa is currently 2.5… Is it possible to boost my gpa to 3.0 if i do well in 6 FCE? Also does work related reference refer to paid work or volunteer work? & im assuming academic reference would be a prof? thank u so much

    ——————————————

    hi!

    of course, you can pull your grades up if you really try, but i’m not 100% sure how much you could pull your grades up. it would depend on how well you do on the 6.0FCE you wanna take as well as how many FCE you’ve already finished. i suggest checking out this handy dandy GPA calculator. just remember that it’s not an official GPA calculator, just an estimator and planning tool.

    a “work-related reference” refers to anyone who can vouch for you in a professional capacity. according to the admissions website, a “work-related reference” could be a work OR volunteer reference. i would figure out what might be the most relevant experience to nursing. for example, if you’ve volunteered at a hospital, that would be much more relevant than a summer camp you worked for.

    an academic reference is anyone who can vouch for you in an academic capacity, so yes, a prof who knows you and your work well would be dope.

    i’d also check out their FAQ page. they have a lot of good (and accurate) info about the application process there.

    hope this helps and good luck!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • UTM

    what even is math

    June 22, 2017

    Hi!

    So I was planning on getting into the Management major; I’m currently doing ECO100, MGM101 and MGM102 this summer. I’m having no trouble with MGM but I’m failing ECO. I was thinking of switching to the DEM Specialist.

    Is DEM super math heavy with finance and economics too, or is it more art and management theory? I know there’s a mandatory 300 level ECO course, but since it’s geared towards CCIT students is it as difficult as ECO100?

    Thanks!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    unfortunately, i really have no idea how math heavy DEM is. i’m not in that program and i’ve never taken those course, so i don’t know how much i can really say about it. i can’t share my experiences  i also support and really identify with your math avoidance. i heckin’ hate math too.

    i suggest that you check out the program calendar, though. they have all the requirements that you need to complete to finish the program. i would also get in contact with the department themselves. according to this, they have an embedded student advisor. i think it would probably be a good idea to talk to them- they have the most up-to-date and relevant information which i’m not really privy to.

    i hope this helps! good luck m’dude.

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • Uncategorized

    distinctly distinction-ed

    June 20, 2017

    Hey, I wanted to know if it is announced during the u of t grad ceremony that you’ve received distinction. Or is that just put on your diploma?? Thanks!

    ——————————————

    hi,

    it’s announced at convocation that you’ve received distinction. it’s also put on your degree! yay double recognition!

    congrats on finishing your degree and good luck in all your future endeavours!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • admissions,  international students

    too many acronyms

    June 20, 2017

    Hi 🙂

    So im planning to apply to U of T and want to study criminology. To do so, I need to take an English Proficiency Test, like TOEFL or ?ELTS, because i went to high school in germany and english is my second language. And my question would be if i, as an international student, would have to take the SAT? Or would it be enough to show my high school diploma from germany and the results of the english proficiency test?

    ——————————————

    hi!

    yes, you’ll need to do an english proficiency test and then have the results sent to the university. as for another standardized test (like the SAT), you don’t have to send those results in unless you took them. if you did take the SAT, you’d have to have the results sent electronically from the testing authority. you can check out the specific admissions requirements here.

    i hope this helps!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • ACORN,  admissions,  subject POST

    acorn, you good?

    June 14, 2017

    Hello,

    I’m going into my second year studying life sciences and have applied to several type 3 programs. I got invited to a program a few days ago on Acorn and there was orange text saying “accept your invitation” and an accept button but being the indecisive person I am, I decided to wait to see if I got anything else before accepting. I checked back today and there was another program under “invited” on the enrol & manage –> programs page on Acorn however both now only have a reapply button. What does this mean? There’s no option to accept or decline the invitations, and clicking reapply just makes an error message pop up saying that the request period is over??? I’m worried and confused, pls help!!

    From,
    Confused student

    ——————————————

    hi!

    as far as i know, you can’t start accepting invitations for programs until july 3rd. i don’t think ACORN will let you accept before that, but you can view your acceptances before that. you can check out more of the dates here. so yeah… not really sure what’s happening with your ACORN and all those weird buttons, but i wouldn’t worry about it too much if i were you.

    if you’re worried about the offer disappearing, i would check with your college registrar as they have access to more information than i do as a student blogger.

    hope this helps! good luck m’dude!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • first year,  FLC,  seminars

    199 vs flc vs ones showdown

    June 14, 2017

    Hey!

    I’m a newly admitted student to life sciences, and I’m kind of in a predicament. I’ve applied and been accepted to one of the Ones program, (UC one – Gradients of Health in an Urban Mosaic). However, I’m also interested in the FLC program for my college, and I read that I can’t do both/it would be hard to and probably interfere with my timetable. I’m going to be living off campus, and taking the typical science and math courses along with a psych, so I’m honestly not sure which would benefit me more? Do you have any personal experience with either? Or have you guys heard of any really good things about either option?? I’m really confused and I’m not sure what is best

    *(on another note what is the difference between a 199 course and a Ones course? Would I be able to do a 199 and a FLC?? do i need to apply to take a 199 course like the Ones program??) *

    Hope that’s not too much to ask ahh thank you!!

    ——————————————

    hi!

    congrats on getting in and welcome to the university of toronto!

    the FLC website says that they don’t recommend doing both a FLC and a first year foundations program since it might be a little hard to balance your time and sort out your schedule as you’d have to juggle many inflexible slots on your schedule. so you technically can do it, it’s just not recommended.

    personally, i haven’t done a FLC, but i did a ones program in first year. i thought that it was a pretty cool experience and i liked that i got to form really great relationships with my profs and classmates. i was also super interested in the course content, which obviously makes everything better. however, some of my classmates found that the program took up a little bit too much time in their schedule (we met four times a week so trying to schedule other classes or commitments around that was a little difficult). it’s really about balancing what you see as the positives and negatives and seeing if it’s worth it for you. as much as i’d like to enforce my opinions on others, this is really your call. something that i might find positive (like small classes) you might see as a negative.

    as for the difference between a 199 course and the ones programs, well it’s in their names. a 199 is just one course and a ones is a program usually with multiple courses whereas a 199 course is just one course totalling 1 FCE or 0.5 FCE depending on whether it’s a full year course or only a semester long. you also don’t need to apply to take a 199 course, you just enrol in it on ACORN like a normal course.

    i think you can be in both a 199 and a ones program, as long as that ones program isn’t vic one. at least that’s what it says in the artsci calendar. all hail the artsci calendar.

    enjoy the rest of your summer and try not to stress too much, bruh. we will see you on campus in september!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • economics,  first year,  international relations

    another pitbull reference

    June 13, 2017

    Hey Aska!

    So I’m a Grade 12 student who got accepted into the UofT, and I’m looking at doing a double major in Economics and International Relations.

    The course plan is
    ECO100Y
    MAT133Y
    HIS103Y
    for sure

    I also applied to Munk One (which is still pending a response) and Trinity One IR. The folks are Trinity One put me on a waiting list, and said it’s “very unlikely” that I’ll get into the IR course for first year. However, they offered me spot in the Public Policy first year courses.

    I’m totally lost on how I go about organizing the rest of first year. I’m probably not gonna do Public Policy, but if I get into Munk One, I definitely want to take their courses to boost my IR application. Problem is, Munk One is two half year and one full year (2.0FCE) and unlike the Trinity One, does not replace the HIS103/102Y requirement for IR.

    If I take ECO, MAT, HIS, and the two Munk One courses, I’ll be at 5 courses. That leaves me without a backup in case I don’t get into IR (which I intended to take POL101Y for). I emailed the IR folks and they told me just to not take POL if I get into Munk One, and to relax about it all, but I’m still skeptical just in case I don’t get into IR 2nd year.

    What’s left for me Aska?

    Thanks dude.

    ——————————————

    hi dude!

    another IR question. why is it always the people who are in IR/ prospective IR students that ask the most questions? y’all are such catherine keeners.

    okay, in all seriousness though, it’s good that you’re thinking so far ahead and that you have a clear game plan for your first year. just keep in mind that plans change and that it’s okay for plans to change. whether it’s because you don’t get into IR or because you change your mind, i think it’s really important for all first years to remember that something ends up changing at some point; i know that it would’ve saved me a lot of stress and heartbreak if i had known that diverging from the plan almost always happens and that it’s not the end of the world. that might sound a little harsh, but i guess that’s what i’m here for. to deliver the harsh truths.

    anyways, back to your question. according to the IR admissions website, you just need ECO100Y or ECO101H/102H and HIS103, HIS102, or a trin one/ vic one FCE. it also says that MAT133 is a prereq for higher level econ courses, so it’s good that you know that for your econ major.

    i’m assuming you wanted to take POL101 for the polisci major? i really don’t know what to say, my dude. while i think that doing munk one and a ones program in general is a good experience and would help with your goal of getting into IR, i also think that having some backup options is the smart and responsible route.

    what’s left for you? i guess you just gotta decide if you want to do munk one or not (if you get it). if you do, great! one step closer to IR! if you don’t… well then you have two free credits to play around with! POL101! maybe a breadth course! maybe a different first year seminar class! and if you don’t get into IR after first year, you could enrol in a placeholder program (which i guess is what you want polisci/ POL101 for) and the econ major, then reapply after second year. like i said earlier, plans change and it’s more about how you adapt to it and what you do to get back on track.

    i really hope this helps! good luck m’dude. and maybe you’ll be mr. worldwide soon enough.

    xoxo,

    aska

    ps- yes, i’m trying to reference to pitbull every time an IR question is asked now.

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  • Uncategorized

    no, thank YOU

    June 12, 2017

    Hello,

    I’m writing to express my gratitude for the post about my 2010 UTM school situation. Long story short, I got suspended for 1 whole calendar year + 3.5 years for a plagiarism allegation since 2014. From the 2014-2016, I experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, generalized anxiety & later on had lymphoma cancer. LOL. Long story short, I crawled out of the shit hole, alive and well.

    I’m just thankful that I can still return to UTM and hopefully, finish my useless Bachelor of Arts before I turn 30. xD! I am very happy, knowing that both Tesla and Martha Stewart succeeded much later on in life, and knowing that I actually pulled through cancer treatments.

    <3 from western Canada where I am from.

    U of T does have a lot of sympathy and empathy – that I completely agree with.

    Kids, just look at the bigger picture, okay?

    AH

    ——————————————

    hey AH!

    wow. i’ll be honest with you, your message melted my cold, steely, unfeeling heart.

    as much as i and the other askas (past and present) would like to be able to claim responsibility for your successes, you’re the one who did all the work! as you said, you crawled out of that sh*thole alive and well, and i’m so glad you did.

    congrats on everything you’ve accomplished so far, even if it seems small or insignificant or “useless”. i am so so proud. and even though you sent this email to thank us, i want to thank you for sharing your story and reminding us that it does #getbetter (even if it sounds sappy af).

    good luck on all your future endeavours. you’re gonna absolutely slay.

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • economics

    it’s automatic, it’s systematic, it’s… economics!

    June 9, 2017

    Should I take economics (ECO105Y1) as a sociology/polisci student? I’m going into my first year and the requirements for social sciences are loose in my case but I was wonder if I take economics non specialist it would help me as a sociology/polisci student in the long run or is it kinda pointless? I don’t want to take more math if I don’t have to lol

    ——————————————

    hi!

    i can’t really tell you whether or not taking ECO105 would be pointless or not in the end; it all depends on what your interests are and what subject POSts you want to apply for. for example, a lot of my friends who are in social sciences took ECO105 in first year so that they could apply for IR, which requires ECO100 or 105. 

    i recommend looking into the subject POSts that you’re interested in and looking at what first year courses are prereqs for the program. that’s the only way to really know if a course “pointless” or not. whatever the “point” may be.

    as for the amount of math, i have no clue how much math is involved in ECO105. i hate math with a burning passion and avoid it at any cost. according to the course calendar, though, it says that the course “emphasizes economic literacy” and that there are “fewer mathematical tools” than ECO100. take whatever you want from that, i can’t really gauge how much math is involved and i’ve never taken the course.

    i hope that helps! catch you on the flip side (on campus in the fall!)

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • arts & sciences,  first year,  seminars

    1-800-which-199?

    June 9, 2017

    What 199 seminar class did you take and how was it? I trust your say 🙂 I’m trying to pick a 199 course and I’m stuck

    ———————————————

    hi!

    i personally didn’t take any 199 seminar classes, but i did a ones program, which is like an extended version of a 199 seminar class. i really enjoyed my seminar classes and developed a lot of meaningful relationships with some super fancy profs and my classmates. our facebook group was poppin’.

    i’d imagine that you’d have a similar experience in a 199 class. though i personally haven’t taken a 199 class, my friends who did all really enjoyed them. it’s a really great way to have a small class experience before third/ fourth year and fulfill the breadth requirement in an interesting way.

    because i’ve never taken one, i don’t think i can recommend one, but there a tons to pick from. i wouldjust  read the descriptions and pick ones that interest you!

    unfortunately, the artsci website with the course descriptions hasn’t been updated yet for 2017-18, but if you use the artsci timetable and type in “first year seminars” in the search bar, a list with the course descriptions and when they are pops up.

    hope this helped, see you on campus in september!

    xoxo,

    aska

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