• 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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  • admissions,  computer science,  enrolment

    so many details so little answers (sorry!)

    June 8, 2017

    Hey guys!

    I know i am pretty early but i need information as early as i can.

    I want to apply to for Computer Science at University of Toronto St George for September 2018. I am an adult student so ill be taking most of my courses online and in summer, night and adult school. So the courses i am planning to take are:

    – ENG4U (already did it though when i was in high school)
    – MCV4U
    – BAT4M > accounting
    – CGW4U > world issues
    – MDM4U > data management
    – SES4U > earth & space science

    So apart from the obvious english and calculus, do you think the rest of the courses are acceptable?

    Plus for calculus….well so my transcript shows a mark for the course but i never actually completed it. I wanted to drop it because i know it was going to be pretty hard since my dad was going through an operation and i just wasn’t in a  good state to focus on such an important course also since i was taking ENG4U and SCH4U. My stupid mistake was that i was late and dropped it right after the dead line so even though i officially dropped the course and never wrote the exam, the mark still showed up on my transcript. Do you guys have any idea how Soft will look at that? And is should explain them my situation right?

    Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

    ———————————————

    hi!

    i don’t know if i can say that these courses are “acceptable” or not, i can only tell you that the only courses required are english and calculus. if you are worried about your calculus mark (you said you wanted to drop it, but it was past the deadline, so i’m assuming you didn’t get the mark you wanted), i would suggest retaking the course.

    as for whether or not the courses are “acceptable”, i would get in contact with enrolment services. they would have the most up-to-date and relevant information that i might not be privy to as a wee student blogger. they have the best info on the mystical enrolment process and admission requirements.

    i really hope that helps. best of luck!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • cinema studies

    back in my day, it was a lecture

    June 8, 2017

    I want to take the Cin105 course but the practical course conflicts with one of my courses 🙁 is it ok to skip the practical ? Is the practical just screening of the movies which I can watch on my own time? Or is that too risky to have a course at the same time of the practical ?

    ———————————————

    hi!

    the practical section of the course is the screening of the movies. basically, in CIN105, you go to one hour’s worth of lecture, 3 hours’ worth of screenings (though usually not that long, as most movies aren’t 3 hours long), and then an hour’s worth of tutorial. all three sections are very important to the course. in fact, when i took the course, the screening was important enough to be designated as a lecture section. and it probably wasn’t a good idea to skip lecture.

    according to the faculty of arts and science’s timetable, there are two practical sections that you could pick between. are they both conflicting with your course? if not, i highly suggest that you attend the practical- it’s incredibly risky to miss the screenings. sure, you can do whatever the heck you want and sure, you can find some of the movies online, but i personally don’t think the risk is worth it. the exams and assignments in the course are mostly based around these movies. if you skip the screening, you might not have another chance to watch the film; it might be really hard to find online, you might find yourself bogged down by too much coursework to set aside time to watch it, etc etc.

    i think it’s best for you to try your hardest to make it to the practical. it just isn’t worth skipping.

    i hope this helps! get after it, you cinephile!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • cool things,  weirdness

    what yacht, brittany???

    June 7, 2017

    How would you hide a giraffe living in your res from the government?

    ———————————————

    hello,

    thanks for writing!

    without revealing too much about which residence i live in, my college is named after a person and we’ve been told that he left a crap ton of gold hidden around our residence.

    he was a wealthy man with a sense of humour, so most people think that the cryptic letter he left behind for future students was just a big practical joke, but personally, i believe that there must be a great deal of gold hidden around the residence because i’ve noticed my skin improving a great deal since living there. did you know that people get gold facials now? yeah. it’s a thing.

    the cryptic letter he left behind said: (btw, if you figure out which college i’m talking about, i would highly recommend that you go check it out in person. the receptionist at the desk will know exactly what you’re talking about)

    *this is my own writing, not his. the original copy is on his own personal letterhead and is typed out and everything. again, you’ll see it if you go to the residence and ask where it is.

    you may be thrown off by the progressive usage of the word ‘hella’ in his letter, but this man was very ahead of his time.

    i mean, from that cryptic letter alone, any semi-literate human being would be able to decipher that he has gold hidden everywhere in the residence. i’ve included a pic of how i deciphered it, in case your mind can’t process the highly complex algorithm i used to crack the code. (i mean, you can’t even figure out where to hide a giraffe, why would i trust you to figure out my highly complex algorithm yourself?)

    anyways, continuing on, our residence hosts monthly treasure hunts for the residents to find the hidden gold. in fact, a large amount of our incidental fees go towards purchasing metal detectors and equipment for these events. if you happen to be part of this college, you’ll see a certain levy in your invoice. it’s disguised quite well since it’s not blatantly named “treasure hunt levy”, but yeah, the money that the students pay goes directly towards those purchases. these treasure hunts are honestly a great time for the members of our community to bond and get to know each other. i’ve made some of my best friends from working together with them on these treasure hunts. everyone is very interested in paying off their student loans with this gold.

    we also hire the city’s best gold-diggers (usually young, exceptionally attractive women) to help us in our search. they don’t help much, though. they seem to be very confused as to why we’ve hired them. they keep asking us where we keep the yacht. what yacht, brittany???

    i would tell you my theories about where i think it’s hidden, but that would give other people ideas and i kind of want to keep the gold to myself.

    no one has found any gold yet, so yeah. wherever this gold is hidden, i’d hide the giraffe.

    peace and love,

    aska

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  • odds are that won't be asked again

    royal dog seeks equally royal walk

    June 7, 2017

    Hi Aska,

    I’m an incoming freshman at UofT and I was wondering whether there are any
    places on campus which are good for me to take my dog on walks. Her name is
    Charlotte and I like to use a stroller while walking with her so that she
    doesn’t get her fur dirty.

    Please respond, Charlotte and I are waiting

    Yours sincerely,

    The Queen of Queen’s Park

    ———————————————

    hi!

    so nice to see a queen and her dog pursuing higher education!

    there are tons of green spaces and nice parks on and around campus. you know of queen’s park, seeing as you are the queen of queen’s park. there’s also philosopher’s walk, the UC quad, the trinity quad, the woodsworth quad, the innis green, and the victoria quad. all really nice places to take a dog for a walk or to throw around a frisbee.

    hope this helps, your majesty!

    xoxo,

    aska

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