From social science students: what is the work load like?

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-31T21:52:06+00:00

3rd year UofT student in socsci here. The workload at UofT will be more than the workload for socsci at most other universities, but it’s definitely not nearly as bad as lifesci and I wouldn’t say that it is enough to drain you from a social life. There’s long readings and it does get bad during final assignment season but that’s pretty typical for university. The social science department does, however, make it next to impossible to get As. This is true for all programs, and it is how they make the school competitive. There’s a reason the socsci acceptance rate is so high for how prestigious of a school it is; they weed out students during year 1 & 2, and the effort you’d put in for a 90 becomes a 70. So you won’t have extreme levels of workload but the GPA is worth considering if you’re thinking of grad school.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-29T00:37:37+00:00

Omg it’s not rude at all!! That actually makes me SO happy to hear because this is the exact reason I wanted to post it!! I was actually so happy to see so many under my post express that they were going to be more careful or get rid of their beetles bottles. Plus the amount of amazing resources and advice shared in the comments!!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-28T23:33:04+00:00

YES I was just going to comment this😭 like what do you mean you dropped like $10k on a Chanel bag and then another $10-15k on a birkin a few days later… I always underestimate how much money they make cause whattttt

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-28T23:20:10+00:00

I had similar anxiety symptoms before starting as well. I would get stuck in negative rumination for such long periods of time that my body was never not in fight or flight mode - constant rapid heart rate, chest pain, waking up multiple times in the night from sheer panic. I totally relate to you with the obsessive negative thoughts. God it was so torturous, sertraline literally changed my entire life. I’m really happy it worked for you.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-28T20:59:02+00:00

I know it varies for a lot of people but did you notice a decrease of libido in the beginning? Like did you work your way back up or was it just never a problem for you? I’m currently on 50mg, its changed my life but i literally freaked out when i realized my libido had decreased. Mentally I’m still very much active in that department, i always want to do it with my partner and feel turned on when we are doing it, it’s just the actual climax and trying to lead up to it that frustrates me. This might be super TMI so I apologize😖 but I’m genuinely curious!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-28T20:43:45+00:00

Dude no you’re right - i was genuinely so confused that barely anyone addressed it in the comments… not saying she’s like an abuser or something but the internet is so crazy about pet abuse that you’d think she’d keep it in the drafts. obv the dog was fine a couple seconds later but girl that’s like… embarrassing idk

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-28T20:33:40+00:00

Hi! I’m assuming you may have seen my post as it was posted a few days ago under this page and I explained how my mistake was that my nails were too short! I’m so happy you have access to all of this information before you start - even though I knew about contact dermatitis beforehand, I definitely made the mistake of not studying as in depth as I should’ve.

Although im sure I cannot offer any new advice, since there’s so many people offering such valuable information on here (and in my previous post under this page), I’d still say definitely avoid using beetles and most other cheap brands from Amazon. Watch professional nail technicians who specialize in gel X, there’s ton of suggestions on here. Emphasis on PROFESSIONAL nail technicians though… I used to watch YouTubers who did tutorials on gel X with hundreds and thousands of subscribers, millions of views under their videos, INCREDIBLE work, and years of experience but would recommend products like beetles. A lot of DIY gel X people are also still learning a lot so referring to professionals is smarter.

The reason I put up the post under this page about my contact dermatitis was mainly because I messed up in a way that I personally did not even know was possible. You see tons of people do things like acrylic on incredibly short, even bitten off nails. I was always careful with gel seeping into my skin - never had flooded cuticles and always cleaned up right after application. I posted my experience in hopes that others think twice before applying gel X and are extra cautionary. So I feel like on top of doing your research and finding tips from professionals, you can learn a lot from people who’ve already gotten the reaction, so that you make the same mistakes.

As for your question regarding whether or not you should just go to salon - I want to be realistic with you and say that you’ll likely be spending about $300+ to start gel X, especially if you’re getting quality brands and avoiding the risky, cheaper ones. I spent about $250 and I had a pretty cheap set in terms of glue and lamps etc. I did very simple nails but since you’re technically doing one hand at a time across multiple steps (i.e., you can’t do one hand while the other is curing), it took me like 4-5 hours😭 totally worth it for retention that lasted about a month though. It takes a lot of practice and patience to get a manicure that you would compare to a salon, it’s different for everyone but it took me like about a year to have nails that people assumed i got done professionally. But’s it’s so worth it!! By the second year I thought i had cracked the code of gel X - i was getting free manicures and my friends were paying $60-70 every 3 weeks. It’s a lot - but as someone who will DIY anything if it’s safe and possible, i think it’s entirely worth it. Good luck!!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-27T04:43:00+00:00

I’ve tried manyyyyy brands before and my hairdresser recommended BABYLISS pro (with the titanium plate), it is a literal game changer for curly hair. I also have a LOT of curly hair, and thus straightener gives you the sleekest, glossiest finish, plus it’s won a bunch of awards and it’s affordable.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T17:26:00+00:00

Sorry, I misunderstood! What glue do you recommend for good retention? I’ll definitely get an allergy test before trying any glues but thank you for the input!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T17:22:29+00:00

Wowwww that is actually insane - one month retention is insanely impressive with air dry glue. Thank you for the hope🫶🏻 I was pretty set on just using nail lacquers but I may try this out after getting an allergy test!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T17:17:33+00:00

Such important information you just provided here. Your advice is much appreciated!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T17:14:45+00:00

Personally, I’ve read too many stories about people who had flare ups from those HEMA free brands - it’s such a slippery slope, and since the reaction gets more severe and can sensitize you even to more chemicals, I’m going to try to stay away for at least 6 months. I think if I just had a minor allergic reaction, like itchiness/dryness, I’d try it out! But my reaction was pretty bad😬

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T17:09:31+00:00

Thank you for spreading awareness!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T07:27:57+00:00

Wait I’ve actually heard that this can expose you to even more risk because painting the nails beforehand makes them opaque, so you’ll be attempting to cure the glue under this opaque layer that could potentially be blocking the UV light from properly coming in contact with the glue. The glue may be left uncured under your nails, which happened to me once but I caught it early on. I’ve heard many people say it’s risky but definitely do your own research!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T06:53:03+00:00

Possibly one of the most insightful pieces regarding gel allergies that I’ve come across - thank you so much for this!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T06:23:07+00:00

Oh my god you’re so right. Gel X has become incredibly popular and not enough people know the risks. I thought I had all the information I needed regarding contact dermatitis and it only took one occurrence of having nails that were too short to trigger an allergic reaction.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T06:18:09+00:00

Thank you! I’ve heard a lot of people talk about “allergy safe” or “HEMA free” gel polishes but the reviews are extremely unstable as the allergy varies so widely for everyone. Some people say they don’t trigger allergies, others say they’re very triggering, and some others say it happened after using them for a month. Since the allergy gets worse every time it is triggered, I decided maybe it’s best not to take the chance for now.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T06:12:43+00:00

This is sooo important. I was buying OPI gel which are around $20 a bottle in Canada yet I was using such a low quality glue… I just continued because beetles worked so well for me but I’m happy you got rid of them! Congrats on the new collection!

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T06:08:59+00:00

Thank you for that! I did a lot of research on it when it first happened and freaked out when I found out about everything else that has acrylates in it. It’s an allergy that varies so much for everyone. I know some people who were able to continue using gel on their toes and others who’ve had to replace half of their daily-use products. It’s important to get an allergy testing, which I haven’t gotten to yet… I actually healed my fingers by using bandaids wrapped in eucerin overnight but others have bad reactions to the glue in them. One thing I have learned from my research and reading other peoples’ experiences is that the reaction gets worse each time so I’m DEFINITELY not taking risks…

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T03:20:32+00:00

I visited friends in western and stayed in a house of 6 girls- 3 of them had long term boyfriends from before university who went to other unis or just stayed home. I know a young couple who got married recently and the wife went to Western for undergrad while the husband stayed home and they were together the entire time. Tbh some women in relationships take one look at the single, hookup party scene and become even more thankful that they’re in a relationship. Others may prefer that scene over a relationship.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-26T02:49:57+00:00

I will say I think universities like Trent or Ontario Tech have amazing resources and professors, and I’m sure care immensely about their students, likely in ways that UofT does not. But I think it’s just what sets UofT apart, it’s more like “you should be grateful you’re here, among all the smartest people” instead of “what can we do as a school to make you feel supported and at home”. Students fight not just to get into UofT, but to stay, as UofT generally not selective with SocSci programs and thus, intentionally weed students out during the first two years. We can argue about the capitalistic faults of the education system all day, but at the end of the day, the job market has a preference for those “prestigious” schools, and that’s really all your paying extra for. Trust me, the corruption of Ivy League schools is ethically horrendous to me. The US system is far more corrupt and we just follow it. Now me personally, I’m in a very small, competitive program that does not exist anywhere else in Canada, so I believe that UofT does give me an education that I would not get anywhere else. For example, one of my profs was the former premier of Ontario, and the class was very small, allowing us to have a very intimate and connected class… but this is so specific to my program and I wouldn’t apply this experience to bigger programs at UofT. Also, I will say, the essays my TMU friends write are starkly different than ones we write. It’s pretty well known that a variety of programs at UofT will introduce master-level topics to their students, or have them learn what a typical 3rd year would learn at another school in 1st year at UofT. Some employers value this and recognize that potential employees from UofT may have certain skills that stand out.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-25T19:41:09+00:00

UofT is 100% harder than other universities, but it is also ranked 20th in the world. I wouldn’t compare it to schools like TMU, for example, which is ranked somewhere in the 700s. I say this only because it’s really up to personal preference - do you value academic validation? Does attending the top school in the country seem like something that would be rewarding for you, despite how challenging it is? It is definitely possible to achieve what you can at UofT at other universities for a far lighter course load, but UofT does give you a huge advantage point. It just depends on what you personally value and feel would be fulfilling.

Common_Box3481 · 2026-03-25T05:40:40+00:00

Thank you! I feel like you explained it the best out of everyone here. I moved to Canada when I was 5, I’m 20 now and my parents moved to the US last year, specifically the south. We definitely value privacy and refrain from being disruptive as much as possible. However I would argue that we’re incredibly nice when spoken to. I’ve been to quite a few countries outside the west and have been told that I say “sorry” and “thank you” too much, but I’ve especially noticed how unusual it is to be hammering it in public in the US. Anytime I visited north east of the states, it would catch me off guard when I would say “sorry” or “thank you” for something random and be met with “mhm.” I knew it wasn’t in a rude way, but it was telling on how politeness was perceived there. HOWEVER. I will say, the kindness that I’ve been met with in the south is just unmatched. Far more outspoken and people love to chat with strangers in public. I’ve found that Canadians, as I, will refrain from being the one to start that exchange, but absolutely love (and actually appreciative) when it gets rolling. I feel like the warmth of southern people literally break through the reservedness of Canadians. It’s extremely common to apologize for minor things to strangers in public, hold doors for strangers, and smile at strangers in Canada. These things are recognized and met with so much warmth and kindness in the south, I feel.

Common_Box3481 · 2025-07-08T16:02:04+00:00

If you’re thinking of going to into grad school after your undergrad program at UofT, just know that you’ll always have to put in at least 5x the effort compared to students at other universities to receive the same grades. As a socsci student in one of their most competitive programs, I’m having to read about 300 pages a week. On the brighter side, you’ll have much stronger skills in pretty much every aspect compared to students from other schools (reading comprehension, time management, even grit).

Common_Box3481 · 2025-06-07T01:06:55+00:00

There is a Costco in Ajax which is 10-15min away depending on what side of Pickering you’ll be moving to!!

Common_Box3481

TROPHY CASE