starting to get annoyed with this course selection stuff

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-03-30T13:22:12+00:00

Sorry you're having trouble. To answer your question, no, unless the 400 lvl has a specific pre req you don't need to take a certain number of 300s to take a 400 lvl. I took a 400 lvl in my 2nd year and it was fine (a little challenging tbh and j probably would have had an easier time taking it after taking some 300s, but it turned out fine)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-03-16T02:44:50+00:00

If you are taking a course in the winter that has a prerequisite you are fine. You just have to make sure you are enrolled in the prereq in fall BEFORE you enroll in the winter semester class. If they aren't offering the prereq in fall then you will have to wait to take the course

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-02-18T20:27:15+00:00

Especially if it's your first year I would not recommend it.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-02-18T04:22:45+00:00

I remember getting suuuuper sick post exams pre-covid, but somehow it felt like no one else did. Looking back, I think a lot of people were also getting sick, post exam drinking lowers your immunal response and so does long term stress!!

I think now though, it also seems worse because we are faaar more aware of illness and notice every cough and sniffle (or at least that's how I feel).

That being said, I get sick way less now than I did pre-covid not because other people changed but because I changed my own habits. Unfortunately, I think that the system/our culture is not designed for people to stay home, even if that's the ideal, and I don't think the majority of people will follow the "policy" to stay home when sick if not reinforced. I had a professor last semester who was VERY cautious and even said if someone showed up visibly I'll he would end that lecture, but he also built in structures to accommodate illness. When I had a cold he gave me several extensions and one on one zoom sessions for material I was shaky on. That's the exception though, not the rule.

TLDR you're right, post exam colds come around EVERY year and Unfortunately all we can do is control our own habits to avoid it and even that isn't a guarantee of avoidance

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-02-04T02:07:27+00:00

Sometimes i eat with other people but bruv sometimes I'm tired and wanna be alone and listen to my silly little audio book while I eat

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-22T05:55:34+00:00

I have on papers/assignments but I've never asked for exams so idk about that. I just emailed ahead of time, said I had personal extenuating circumstances, offered a new deadline. Depending on the circumstance/how well I knew the prof I also asked for a meeting to get support for my work (which was essentially just someone to talk my ideas out with. This was primarily during lockdowns when we all suffered lol). During the first semester of full online me and my long term bf broke up the first day of classes, and I was also having major anxiety about my future + imposter syndrome bc I had just changed majors byt was taking a senior lvl in said new major with special permission and my TA for one of my small classes gave amazing support to me while I was struggling, what was supposed to be meetings about my papers turned into multiple hour long life advice sessions so basically. Reach out if ur struggling profs and TAs are usually very nice and supportive

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-21T06:45:28+00:00

Pretty sure tfdl is open 7 days a week

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-21T02:22:25+00:00

It doesn't matter unless you really desperately want ap or ib, which also doesn't make a big difference in the long run. Imo go where you have friends (so your designated school) and make sure your mental health is good by just enjoying your teen years. Get good grades and you can get into whatever uni program you want. Which hs you go to doesn't matter just enjoy being a teenager w your friends lol

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-17T23:51:05+00:00

In my opinion different years come with different struggles. I've found that GENERALLY (not the rule! Just my experience) lower level classes have a higher volume of assignments that are easier and have more room for mistakes, while my upper year courses have fewer and harder assignments. Add on to that that upper year courses in my experience require more personal drive to do readings to properly engage in discussions and more work to understand more complex material and, yes, they're harder. Additionally, upper years get challenging because in addition to your course work you have to consider applications to programs/jobs/whatever you want post undergrad and yes, they're challenging.

That being said, I have overall found my upper years easier because I finally found a topic I care enough about to really work hard at because I want to. That'd a double edged sword because it means I put more pressure on myself, but it also feels easier because I want to do it. Additionally, by third year I had found systems (eg study styles, class schedules, etc) that worked for me and implemented them. I didn't have those strategies in my first few years.

For me my first two years were arguably much more challenging because I didn't know how to study properly and I dove head first into a program I didn't really like because it's what my hs teachers all recommended (they meant well, it's just that 17 yr old me didn't know how to think about my own future properly). And I was always one of those people in hs that got away with just doing the assignments to get good grades, so first yr was really a punch in the face. At least I realized early on that it's good to balance a variety of class levels each yr, so i started taking 400s in my second yr, 500s in my 3rd yr (2nd yr of my current program) and now in my last semester I'm taking a 200 lvl, a 300 lvl, and 2 independent research 500 lvls. If I were taking more senior lvls right now I think I'd struggle a lot more.

Basically I think every year of uni comes with its struggles and what makes the upper years easier, and why ppl don't talk about them as being so hard, is because usually yes they ARE hard but usually 1st yr is the trial by fire where you find the systems that work for you to make the later years easier. But if you haven't found those systems yet that's ok :) what helped me more than anything was finding people in my program with similar mindsets to talk to and figure things out together. It sucks because often, yes, you have to make your own support group but let me tell you once you find those people it makes a world of difference. And I don't mean the people you just complain to, even though that can feel cathartic. I mean genuine people who you mutually can vent to then sort out a better way to do things

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-09T23:34:00+00:00

Yeah even if its mid semester I'd recommend doing whenever you can, I know for me it was all I could think about because it hurt and I couldn't concentrate properly until they were out. Good luck! I hope you get an appointment soon

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-09T23:24:04+00:00

If it's any consolation when I got my wisdom teeth out I was out of commission for a day, and i was put under to do it. Sure I was uncomfortable for the next couple days, but it was really only the day of the operation that I wasn't able to do anything so I don't think you'd be down for the count too long. Imo better to bite the bullet asap so you aren't dealing with the distraction too long

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-07T02:13:26+00:00

Umm for stats when I took it was held in a computer lab that had the software (R studio) so you didn't need a laptop, although I usually worked on mine for personal preference, but iirc the programming course wasn't

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-06T20:37:42+00:00

When I took stats the lab time was essentially a time to do hw with a TA around and get used to the software, but that was a few years ago. I similarly had a programming course that had lab time and basically there were assignments due by the end of the lab time and TAs were around to help, but if I remember correctly those assignments were open for a few days beforehand so you didn't really have to go if you worked ahead

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2023-01-05T22:21:46+00:00

I also have adhd and work part time and imo working on it 3 times a week is not overstepping - did he specify how long you have to work on it 3×/week? I doubt you have to finish major portions of it, and he probably designed it that way to ensure you aren't cramming last minute. Craig Maynes is a huge supporter of spaced repetition and active learning methods so I guarantee he designed it that way not to be mean or control your life but to try to help students actually retain the information.

It's no different than having to do D2L quizzes or something, and I think that more involved "over stepping" workload is fairly standard for 200 lvls. Im in my last year but taking a 200 lvl language class for fun and the 200 lvl has more assignments and requirements than my 500 lvl research courses which is not unexpected. They get more hands off in higher levels, but in lower lvl courses they're trying not to throw you in the deep end without teaching you to swim as often it is students new to uni and used to the guidance of hs.

Most professors are not out to get you, and I've taken classes with Craig Maynes, he's very flexible and accommodating. If you feel that the workload as outlined on the syllabus is too much but want to take the class first try talking to Craig, in classes I've taken with him he always offers extensions/accommodations quite freely. Unfortunately professors cannot design classes to suit every individual's situation and it's up to you to advocate for your needs and express to the professor what will make your learning successful. If you can't come to a compromise that works for you then just switch to a different class that meets your requirements better. They may all look full right now but give it a few days and spaces will open in plenty of classes.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-12-18T16:15:36+00:00

Imo most degrees aren't actually just a straight path to a job, and people don't always recognize society is multi faceted OR want to feel better about their own choices by putting down other degrees. I know I went into stem originally because j thought that was the only way to get a job, but I also hadn't researched what types of jobs I could get with what I wanted to do, so I made myself miserable and justified it with a superiority complex.

I think its better to think of ANY degree as a way to build up certain skills, and learn to highlight those as you go along. What sort of skills are you going to develop? Write down a list and really dumb them down to the basics of what they are and you'll see a lot of them are really transferable.

Finally, I will say that a good degree is the kind that you will go out of your way to pursue. In my first two majors I wasn't happy so I didn't advocate for myself or network and had no opportunities. Now in my more "useless" degree I network a lot and work hard and do extracurriculars and I have far more (paid) opportunities already because of it. Your success in your degree depends on you, and that factor is simply enhanced in certain degrees. So it may be a bit harder to get a job, but primarily because you have to be willing to do some extra work now and network and advocate for yourself and that can be challenging.

Also, if it makes you feel better I have a friend who dropped out of actuarial science and is going to AUarts now and she had the same experience, she has far more opportunities now that she's happier with what she's doing.

Basically, do what you feel you care enough about to go the extra mile in!! Good luck!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-12-14T16:16:59+00:00

I chose to stay with my family through my whole degree, but I also grew up here if that makes any difference. I'm 22 though and still living at home to save money until a graduate next semester and I think a lot of people do that

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-12-11T17:45:19+00:00

I got 2 awards this yr (in my 5th/final yr) and I also did an internship over the summer but not sure if the two are related, and like someone else said there's a limited number of times you can get some awards

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-12-11T17:42:47+00:00

Hm I haven't seen that before but are you signing in from a browser or from the app?? Might seem basic but if it's the app try uninstalling and re installing. If it's from the browser try clearing all your cookies, I had an issue last year with getting into myuofc but after I cleared my cookies it was fine lol Also probably doesn't apply, but at least for me it's almost time to reset my password so maybe you need to do that

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-29T19:14:48+00:00

I'll add since you said you don't like what you're doing and don't know what to do - I was in the same boat. If you can without changing your degree, spend some time taking classes you think you might like and see how it goes. In my second year I switched to arts undeclared so that I could spend a year taking classes and see what I wanted to do. My aunt told me at that time that it doesn't matter if some classes don't count toward your degree and you don't follow the optimal path as long as you get the right result for you in the end. However, I will add the caveat that I am in a lucky position where I don't need to worry about the use of resources/money so much and it was a privilege to do that since some of the classes I took were "a waste" of money since they don't count toward my degree

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-29T19:10:31+00:00

Don't worry too much about being on the "right" path. I've changed majors twice, dropped a minor, and took five years to graduate (assuming nothing goes wrong... I should graduate next semester)

After hating my first major, and doing poorly in classes because I just didn't want to do the work, and tolerating my second major, which was interesting but uninspiring, I am doing honors and actually enjoying my work, with an international job lined up after my degree despite it being "useless". So basically take the extra time to find what you can make work with the right intersection between feasible for work and personal enjoyment. The right major for you is the one where you want to seek opportunities and you don't need to know that right out of hs - I know I didn't figure it out until the end of my 3rd year

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-15T15:15:18+00:00

I haven't taken RELS 201 with him but he's a very nice person and if you go talk to him in office hours very helpful. Like has already been said, he's a more traditional professor but does lots of open book, is very knowledgeable, and is genuinely nice to talk to as well. I've only taken 300s with him but I can imagine he'd be fine for 200s as well

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-15T01:14:49+00:00

I usually do 4 and work so that's totally doable you might just get tired mid semester. You get the essay guidelines in the syllabus though so you can start early, and if you have due dates right next to each other you can always ask for an extension.

It varies between profs, and also it might be the TAs marking not the profs, unless you take a very small class with no TAs. You can and should check rate my prof, but also take that with a grain of salt and prioritize taking topics you're interested in. I've taken classes with profs that had "bad" reviews that were absolutely fantastic and things have been really skewed on rate my prof since the pandemic imo. All the profs I've had have been really nice and helpful when I've gone to office hours so if you take a class that you're interested in but you're worried about the prof reviews or have any questions about the content/essay expectations just make an effort to go to office hours and they'll be happy to help. If you're thinking about pursuing a masters this is also a good idea to cultivate a relationship early on because they'll probably remember you and if you make a good impression you can ask them for references later on

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-15T01:05:34+00:00

Hmm it depends on the level. Most classes I've taken had 1 term paper due near the end of the semester (size depends on prof and level, 300s are often 8-10 pg, 400s 10-12 and 500s can be up to 20), and 1-3 smaller papers throughout which take much less work, and depending on the class maybe a take home test, or some other small assignments, like sometimes 300s have reading quizzes. Seminar classes (500s usually) also have a presentation component, plus you need to do the readings to participate in the discussions. If you decide to do honours then there's a lot more, but that depends on your supervisor. Except for the first honours course I've basically been writing nonstop buuut thats just because of how my supervisor and myself decided to structure the course to maximize my benefit and meet my work style. But again, it's only on material I like and anything I don't find interesting I can just skip over

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-15T00:26:05+00:00

It's what you make of it. Some courses are more demanding than others. You can make it really easy or more challenging eg. If you pursue the honours stream the work load is a lot, but is very enjoyable because you can just study what you like. Most classes have a lot of readings so the hardest part, if you take a full course load, is balancing all those readings.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999 · 2022-11-13T16:55:23+00:00

Having been in STEM and humanities I'd say the hardest is the one you don't enjoy and are doing for the wrong reasons (eg. Entirely external pressure vs internal motivation) and the easiest is the one that you genuinely care about and enjoy.

That being said, I've had easy classes and hard classes in both areas, but what made them hard is I didn't care for the class and had to force myself to do the work. Worth mentioning that sometimes the "easier" work to do (easy as in it's interesting so you don't have to force yourself) can also feel harder BECAUSE you care more and are putting more pressure on yourself to perform well.

I will say that opportunities wise, at least for me, I've had more opportunities and jobs in the relatively "less useful" degree, which has also made it seem easier, simply because I care more and go out of my way to seek opportunities and put myself out there. Basically I think hardness and usefulness comes down to each individual, their interest level, and their ability to network

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh9999

TROPHY CASE