{"id":29279,"date":"2025-10-28T12:37:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T16:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/?p=29279"},"modified":"2025-10-28T13:15:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T17:15:45","slug":"running-to-labs-vs-running-drills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/?p=29279","title":{"rendered":"running to labs vs running drills"},"content":{"rendered":"

hi aska,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

i’m a current grade 12 student in ontario and i would consider myself to be a pretty good student (taking all APs, usually get pretty good grades, on top of homework, etc. etc.). however, i also play volleyball and it definitely does affect my ability to actually focus on certain subjects, of which i have found mostly to be math.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

i’m applying to uoft life science (first choice on OUAC, i REALLY want to get in) and i’m a bit scared because i’m not doing very well in data management (current average after 2 quizzes + a test is 81), and i know it’s not a prereq but i’m still worried.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>for context, my overall grade 11 average last year was a 91% (including fast-tracked comp sci and advanced functions).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>i got a 97 in G11 AP English, 92 in G11 functions, 89 in G11 AP Bio, 87 in G11 chemistry, 87 in advanced functions, and 90 in G12 comp sci.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

starting out this semester, i have bio and english, and i think i can project myself doing pretty well in those.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

so, my question is: what is the likelihood of someone with my grades getting into uoft life science? what would be an average i should aim for? how can i ensure i get into uoft?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

should i just apply to rmc at this point ?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

heyyo,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

wellllll I’ve never been to rmc and don\u2019t know anyone who goes there, but im willing to guess that life at utsg life sci is quite a bit different than at rmc. for instance, i have yet to hear of a life sci student who has been forced to do obstacle courses at 7am in order to get their degree. but hey, maybe i just haven\u2019t talked to enough life sci kids yet…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

to answer your actual questions though:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

the recommended average for life sci admission varies depending on the campus. that\u2019s right, you can take life sci at all three uoft campuses. I don\u2019t know which one you\u2019re at (guys, PLEASE tell me what campus you\u2019re talking about!!), so i took the liberty of doing a bit of research for all of them. so generous, i know.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

at utsg (the downtown campus), the approx admission range is mid to high 80s<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>at utsc it depends on the specific programs you\u2019d wanna do but they\u2019re mostly mid-high 70s<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>at utm there\u2019s no grade requirements for life sci specifically but the general requirement is an average of 75%<\/span><\/a>. so i’ll let you make assumptions about that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

also, a quick side note in case you didn\u2019t know about it already: some programs within the life sciences category require certain classes in high school. i would very very very much highly recommend that you <\/span>look through all the programs listed in the table on this website<\/span><\/a> to make sure you\u2019re taking the classes you’ll need to get into any programs you might be into. there’d be nothing worse than wanting to apply to, like, the pharmaceutical chemistry program but oops! you didn’t take grade 12 physics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

thank me later.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

so as for how you can ensure that you get in — <\/span>life sci is a grades-only admission category<\/span><\/a>, so really the best thing you can do is maintain your good grades.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

now as for balancing school with volleyball, it\u2019s of my personal opinion that having something fun outside of academics is almost always a good thing. i think it boosts your mood, can prevent burnout, and if it\u2019s a team sport like what you\u2019re doing it can keep up your social relationships. i mean, if i didn\u2019t have a life outside of academics, i wouldn\u2019t be writing to you right now. and how sad would that be?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

however, if you find that it\u2019s really distracting you and having a negative impact on your schoolwork, talk to your guidance counselor and\/or coach to see what you can figure out together. if you really feel like you need a bit of a break from volleyball you could try telling your coach, but i would personally never recommend fully dropping out of a sport or ec that makes you happy unless your academics are in really dire straits. which yours are not!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

keep up your great work so far, and best of luck with your application! i hope you\u2019ll be running to your labs at uoft this time next year, and not running drills at rmc (unless you decide you\u2019re into that).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

cheers,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

aska<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

hi aska,\u00a0 i’m a current grade 12 student in ontario and i would consider myself to be a pretty good student (taking all APs, usually get pretty good grades, on top of homework, etc. etc.). however, i also play volleyball and it definitely does affect my ability to actually focus on certain subjects, of which i have found mostly to be math.\u00a0\u00a0 i’m applying to uoft life science (first choice on OUAC, i REALLY want to get in) and i’m a bit scared because i’m not doing very well in data management (current average after 2 quizzes + a test is 81), and i know it’s not a prereq but i’m still worried.\u00a0\u00a0for context, my overall grade 11 average last year was a 91% (including fast-tracked comp sci and advanced functions).\u00a0\u00a0i got a 97 in G11 AP English, 92 in G11 functions, 89 in G11 AP Bio, 87 in G11 chemistry, 87 in advanced functions, and 90 in G12 comp sci.\u00a0\u00a0 starting out this semester, i have bio and english, and i think i can project myself doing pretty well in those.\u00a0 so, my question is: what is the likelihood of someone with my grades getting into uoft life science? what would be an average i should aim for? how can i ensure i get into uoft?\u00a0\u00a0 should i just apply to rmc at this point ?\u00a0 Thanks!\u00a0 heyyo,\u00a0 wellllll I’ve never been to rmc and don\u2019t know anyone who goes there, but im willing to guess that life at utsg life sci is quite a bit different than at rmc. for instance, i have yet to hear of a life sci student who has been forced to do obstacle courses at 7am in order to get their degree. but hey, maybe i just haven\u2019t talked to enough life sci kids yet…\u00a0 to answer your actual questions though:\u00a0 the recommended average for life sci admission varies depending on the campus. that\u2019s right, you can take life sci at all three uoft campuses. I don\u2019t know which one you\u2019re at (guys, PLEASE tell me what campus you\u2019re talking about!!), so i took the liberty of doing a bit of research for all of them. so generous, i know.\u00a0 at utsg (the downtown campus), the approx admission range is mid to high 80s. at utsc it depends on the specific programs you\u2019d wanna do but they\u2019re mostly mid-high 70s, and at utm there\u2019s no grade requirements for life sci specifically but the general requirement is an average of 75%. so i’ll let you make assumptions about that.\u00a0 also, a quick side note in case you didn\u2019t know about it already: some programs within the life sciences category require certain classes in high school. i would very very very much highly recommend that you look through all the programs listed in the table on this website to make sure you\u2019re taking the classes you’ll need to get into any programs you might be into. there’d be nothing worse than wanting to apply to, like, the pharmaceutical chemistry program but oops! you didn’t take grade 12 physics.\u00a0 thank me later.\u00a0 so as for how you can ensure that you get in — life sci is a grades-only admission category, so really the best thing you can do is maintain your good grades.\u00a0 now as for balancing school with volleyball, it\u2019s of my personal opinion that having something fun outside of academics is almost always a good thing. i think it boosts your mood, can prevent burnout, and if it\u2019s a team sport like what you\u2019re doing it can keep up your social relationships. i mean, if i didn\u2019t have a life outside of academics, i wouldn\u2019t be writing to you right now. and how sad would that be?\u00a0 however, if you find that it\u2019s really distracting you and having a negative impact on your schoolwork, talk to your guidance counselor and\/or coach to see what you can figure out together. if you really feel like you need a bit of a break from volleyball you could try telling your coach, but i would personally never recommend fully dropping out of a sport or ec that makes you happy unless your academics are in really dire straits. which yours are not!\u00a0 keep up your great work so far, and best of luck with your application! i hope you\u2019ll be running to your labs at uoft this time next year, and not running drills at rmc (unless you decide you\u2019re into that).\u00a0 cheers,\u00a0 aska\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,246,245,110],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-admissions","category-applying-for-u-of-t","category-getting-into-u-of-t","category-life-science"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29279\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askastudent.utoronto.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}